 | Poems on several subjects |  |
A Lamentation, &c.
O Lord, my God, what can I say
Concerning this sad case?
This is a sad degen'rate day;
Yea, even in this place,
Concerning this sad case?
This is a sad degen'rate day;
Yea, even in this place,
We are a people that's secure;
No trade we have with heav'n;
Yet Satan's bondage we endure;
To sin and sloth are giv'n.
No trade we have with heav'n;
Yet Satan's bondage we endure;
To sin and sloth are giv'n.
From Israel the glory's gone;
Woe's us, for we have sinn'd
Against our God the holy One,
And would not be restrain'd.
Woe's us, for we have sinn'd
Against our God the holy One,
And would not be restrain'd.
His gracious presence is withdrawn
From ev'ry ordinance;
O that a day of pow'r would dawn
On his inheritance.
From ev'ry ordinance;
O that a day of pow'r would dawn
On his inheritance.
Because iniquity abounds,
The love of many's cold;
We're full of putrifying wounds,
And bruises manifold.
The love of many's cold;
We're full of putrifying wounds,
And bruises manifold.
216
From head to foot, from king to those
That are of station mean;
All in a course of trespass goes;
To sin we all are keen.
That are of station mean;
All in a course of trespass goes;
To sin we all are keen.
Lord, we have sinn'd, we must confess,
Against thy laws and light;
This aggravates our guiltiness,
That we thy statutes slight.
Against thy laws and light;
This aggravates our guiltiness,
That we thy statutes slight.
How can we think to be excus'd
When Jesus Christ shall come,
When thy free grace is so abus'd
By all, both old and young?
When Jesus Christ shall come,
When thy free grace is so abus'd
By all, both old and young?
For Sodom and Gomorrah, sure,
And Tyre and Sidon too,
It will be better in that hour,
Than us who live just now:
And Tyre and Sidon too,
It will be better in that hour,
Than us who live just now:
For, if the gospel had been preach'd
To them, as at this day,
Their consciences it would have reach'd,
And caus'd them watch and pray.
To them, as at this day,
Their consciences it would have reach'd,
And caus'd them watch and pray.
The heathens shall in judgment stand
Against us who pretend
To be in Christ's church militant,
Yet have his laws profan'd.
Against us who pretend
To be in Christ's church militant,
Yet have his laws profan'd.
We will be forc'd to pray the rocks
And mountains, at that day,
To fall, and cover us as clokes;
But they will all deny.
And mountains, at that day,
To fall, and cover us as clokes;
But they will all deny.
Where shall we go? where can we fly?
We shelter will find none,
From the lamb's frowning majesty,
That sits upon the throne.
We shelter will find none,
From the lamb's frowning majesty,
That sits upon the throne.
'Tis not in man that walks, O Lord,
His ways and steps to guide;
Do thou thy Spirit's help afford,
Or else we'll turn aside.
His ways and steps to guide;
Do thou thy Spirit's help afford,
Or else we'll turn aside.
217
Command a blessing from above,
Upon the means of grace;
Increase our faith, hope, fear, and love;
Give us Christ's righteousness.
Upon the means of grace;
Increase our faith, hope, fear, and love;
Give us Christ's righteousness.
Fair as the sun, clear as the moon,
Lord, make thy church to be,
E'en as victorious armies shone
With banners terribly:
Lord, make thy church to be,
E'en as victorious armies shone
With banners terribly:
Unite the hearts of all thy priests,
In love and concord still:
Our sabbaths and our solemn feasts,
Bless, Lord, of thy good will.
In love and concord still:
Our sabbaths and our solemn feasts,
Bless, Lord, of thy good will.
Awaken those that are asleep,
That Christ may give them light;
Reclaim the obstinate, and keep
All thy disciples right.
That Christ may give them light;
Reclaim the obstinate, and keep
All thy disciples right.
From error, schism and debate,
Purge Levi's children all;
Give grace and peace in church and state,
And bless us, great and small.
Purge Levi's children all;
Give grace and peace in church and state,
And bless us, great and small.
But, Lord, we hardly can expect
Such days of pow'r to be,
'Cause of our wilful sad neglect,
And dire apostacie.
Such days of pow'r to be,
'Cause of our wilful sad neglect,
And dire apostacie.
Thou threatens us, and justly too,
Since we thy laws forsook;
Thy absence troubles us: do thou
Revive us with a look,
Since we thy laws forsook;
Thy absence troubles us: do thou
Revive us with a look,
As thou didst Peter, in the days
When in thy humiliation.
Exalt us, Lord, and we shall praise
Thy name with adoration.
When in thy humiliation.
Exalt us, Lord, and we shall praise
Thy name with adoration.
| Poems on several subjects | |