 | The poetical works of John and Charles Wesley |  |
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HYMNS FOR THE NATION, In 1782.
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I. PART I.
HYMN I. AFTER THE DEFEAT AT THE CHESAPEAK.
The Lord, the' almighty Lord of hosts,
His own dread purpose hath fulfill'd;
Rebuked a sinful nation's boasts,
That all may see His arm reveal'd;
And Britain, humbled in the dust,
Confess His sharpest judgments just.
His own dread purpose hath fulfill'd;
Rebuked a sinful nation's boasts,
That all may see His arm reveal'd;
And Britain, humbled in the dust,
Confess His sharpest judgments just.
Righteous, O Lord, Thy judgments are!
We bow to Thy severe decree,
Who, casting out our formal prayer,
Hast given our foes the victory:
As pleased rebellion's cause to bless,
And crown the wicked with success.
We bow to Thy severe decree,
Who, casting out our formal prayer,
Hast given our foes the victory:
As pleased rebellion's cause to bless,
And crown the wicked with success.
The wicked are Thy sword and rod,
Our crimes commission'd to chastise;
Who long have fought against our God,
Provoked the vengeance of the skies;
Thy threatenings mock'd, Thy favours spurn'd,
Thy blessings into curses turn'd.
Our crimes commission'd to chastise;
Who long have fought against our God,
Provoked the vengeance of the skies;
Thy threatenings mock'd, Thy favours spurn'd,
Thy blessings into curses turn'd.
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Therefore the dire decree takes place,
Abandon'd as to Satan's power,
A desperate, death-devoted race;
We see the slaughtering sword devour;
Our legions pass beneath the yoke,
Our nation is of God forsook.
Abandon'd as to Satan's power,
A desperate, death-devoted race;
We see the slaughtering sword devour;
Our legions pass beneath the yoke,
Our nation is of God forsook.
Yet if Thou hast not fix'd our doom,
And sworn, in wrath, no more to spare,
If still there is for mercy room,
For hope, and penitence, and prayer,
Us in our blood once more reprieve,
And bid Thy sentenced rebels live.
And sworn, in wrath, no more to spare,
If still there is for mercy room,
For hope, and penitence, and prayer,
Us in our blood once more reprieve,
And bid Thy sentenced rebels live.
Howe'er the righteous Thou conceal,
Or under, or above the skies,
The wicked must Thy justice feel;
And never shall Britannia rise,
Unless we to our Smiter turn,
And leave the sins for which we mourn.
Or under, or above the skies,
The wicked must Thy justice feel;
And never shall Britannia rise,
Unless we to our Smiter turn,
And leave the sins for which we mourn.
HYMN II. FOR THE LOYAL AMERICANS.
Father of everlasting love,
The only Refuge of despair,
Thy bowels toward the' afflicted move,
And now Thou hear'st the mournful prayer
We for our helpless brethren breathe,
Who pant within the jaws of death.
The only Refuge of despair,
Thy bowels toward the' afflicted move,
And now Thou hear'st the mournful prayer
We for our helpless brethren breathe,
Who pant within the jaws of death.
The men who dared their king revere,
And faithful to their oaths abide,
Midst perjured hypocrites sincere,
Harass'd, oppress'd on every side;
Gaul'd by the tyrant's iron yoke,
By Britain's faithless sons forsook.
And faithful to their oaths abide,
Midst perjured hypocrites sincere,
Harass'd, oppress'd on every side;
Gaul'd by the tyrant's iron yoke,
By Britain's faithless sons forsook.
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Our patriot chiefs betray'd their trust,
To serve their own infernal ends,
The slaves of avarice and lust,
Sparing their foes, they spoil'd their friends;
Basely repaid their loyal zeal,
And left them to the murderer's will.
To serve their own infernal ends,
The slaves of avarice and lust,
Sparing their foes, they spoil'd their friends;
Basely repaid their loyal zeal,
And left them to the murderer's will.
As sheep appointed to be slain,
The victims of fidelity,
To man they look for help in vain;
But shall they look in vain to Thee,
God over all, who canst subdue
The hearts which mercy never knew?
The victims of fidelity,
To man they look for help in vain;
But shall they look in vain to Thee,
God over all, who canst subdue
The hearts which mercy never knew?
Even now Thou canst disarm their rage,
(If so Thy gracious will intends,)
The wrath implacable assuage,
The malice of remorseless fiends;
Mercy at last compell'd to show,
And let the hopeless captives go.
(If so Thy gracious will intends,)
The wrath implacable assuage,
The malice of remorseless fiends;
Mercy at last compell'd to show,
And let the hopeless captives go.
Yet if our brethren's doom be seal'd,
And for superior joys design'd,
They have their glorious course fulfill'd;
To souls beneath the altar join'd,
Their guiltless blood hath found a tongue,
And every drop exclaims “How long?”
And for superior joys design'd,
They have their glorious course fulfill'd;
To souls beneath the altar join'd,
Their guiltless blood hath found a tongue,
And every drop exclaims “How long?”
O earth, conceal not thou their blood
Which loud as Zechariah's cries!
O God, Thou just, avenging God,
Behold them with Thy flaming eyes,
And blast, and utterly consume
Those murderers of fanatic Rome.
Which loud as Zechariah's cries!
O God, Thou just, avenging God,
Behold them with Thy flaming eyes,
And blast, and utterly consume
Those murderers of fanatic Rome.
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Till then, Thou bidd'st Thy servants rest,
Who suffer'd death for conscience sake,
And wait to rise completely bless'd,
The general triumph to partake,
To see the righteous Judge come down,
And boldly claim the martyr's crown.
Who suffer'd death for conscience sake,
And wait to rise completely bless'd,
The general triumph to partake,
To see the righteous Judge come down,
And boldly claim the martyr's crown.
HYMN III.
[By whom, O God, shall Britain rise]
“By whom shall Jacob arise! For he is small.”
—Amos viii. 2.
By whom, O God, shall Britain rise,
So small in all the nation's eyes,
So lessen'd in her own?
Out of the deep, we cry to Thee,
And with profound humility
Besiege Thy gracious throne.
So small in all the nation's eyes,
So lessen'd in her own?
Out of the deep, we cry to Thee,
And with profound humility
Besiege Thy gracious throne.
By whom, O God, shall Britain rise?
Not by the' ignoble slaves of vice
Who have their country sold,
Betray'd us in their prosperous hour
To raise a restless faction's power,
And glut their lust of gold.
Not by the' ignoble slaves of vice
Who have their country sold,
Betray'd us in their prosperous hour
To raise a restless faction's power,
And glut their lust of gold.
Not by the basest tools of war,
Who all Thy plagues and judgments dare,
In oaths and blasphemies,
Ravage their friends with sword and fire,
Through covetous or foul desire,
And hate the thoughts of peace.
Who all Thy plagues and judgments dare,
In oaths and blasphemies,
Ravage their friends with sword and fire,
Through covetous or foul desire,
And hate the thoughts of peace.
By whom—but we inquire in vain,
Till Thou Thy own design explain,
For only, Lord, to Thee
Thy works, before the world began,
Thy chosen instrument, were known
From all eternity.
Till Thou Thy own design explain,
For only, Lord, to Thee
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Thy chosen instrument, were known
From all eternity.
Thy searching eye beholds him now:
While suppliant at Thy feet we bow,
To us the man be show'd,
The' intrepid man of virtuous zeal,
Resolved and incorruptible,
Who seeks our nation's good:
While suppliant at Thy feet we bow,
To us the man be show'd,
The' intrepid man of virtuous zeal,
Resolved and incorruptible,
Who seeks our nation's good:
Our nation's good, and not his own;
While listening to the plaintive moan,
Of loyalty oppress'd,
He serves his king's and God's designs,
America and Britain joins,
And blends them in his breast.
While listening to the plaintive moan,
Of loyalty oppress'd,
He serves his king's and God's designs,
America and Britain joins,
And blends them in his breast.
O that he in the gap may stand,
Raised up to save a sinking land,
Our blessings to restore,
Concord, and peace, and loyal fear,
And truth and piety sincere,
Till time shall be no more.
Raised up to save a sinking land,
Our blessings to restore,
Concord, and peace, and loyal fear,
And truth and piety sincere,
Till time shall be no more.
Then shall we, Lord, surround Thy throne,
Through Christ inseparably one,
United in Thy praise,
And sing, with all those hosts above,
The triumphs of all-conquering love
In everlasting lays.
Through Christ inseparably one,
United in Thy praise,
And sing, with all those hosts above,
The triumphs of all-conquering love
In everlasting lays.
HYMN IV.
[Great God, we know not what to do]
Great God, we know not what to do,
But fix our wishful eyes on Thee,
Who or by many, or by few,
Sav'st in the last extremity!
Whose arm, when all resources fail,
Its own immortal strength puts on,
When the infernal hosts prevail,
And Satan shouts, “The work is done.”
But fix our wishful eyes on Thee,
Who or by many, or by few,
Sav'st in the last extremity!
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Its own immortal strength puts on,
When the infernal hosts prevail,
And Satan shouts, “The work is done.”
Whom hostile multitudes surround,
And nations ready to devour,
No help for us in man is found,
No refuge in our darkest hour,
Unless Thy greatness interpose,
To blast the' infallible design,
Confound our proud, triumphant foes,
And claim this ransom'd land for Thine.
And nations ready to devour,
No help for us in man is found,
No refuge in our darkest hour,
Unless Thy greatness interpose,
To blast the' infallible design,
Confound our proud, triumphant foes,
And claim this ransom'd land for Thine.
Oft hath Thine arm, in ancient days,
Stretch'd out in our defence appear'd,
And ransom'd a devoted race,
And snatch'd us from the death we fear'd:
Armies and fleets invincible
Were baffled in their surest aim,
Treasons and plots Thou didst dispel,
Deep as the pit from which they came.
Stretch'd out in our defence appear'd,
And ransom'd a devoted race,
And snatch'd us from the death we fear'd:
Armies and fleets invincible
Were baffled in their surest aim,
Treasons and plots Thou didst dispel,
Deep as the pit from which they came.
Thy providence reversed our doom,
When parricides the land o'erflow'd,
(Rebellious sects in league with Rome,)
And turn'd it to a field of blood.
For years we groan'd beneath their sway,
But mercy, by a powerful word,
Crush'd all our tyrants in a day,
Our blessings all at once restored.
When parricides the land o'erflow'd,
(Rebellious sects in league with Rome,)
And turn'd it to a field of blood.
For years we groan'd beneath their sway,
But mercy, by a powerful word,
Crush'd all our tyrants in a day,
Our blessings all at once restored.
Have we not lately heard and seen
More wonderful escapes than these,
From furious persecuting men,
From hosts of human savages?
Appall'd we heard Apollyon roar,
Aghast we saw the flames aspire,
Till rescued by almighty power,
And pluck'd as brands out of the fire.
More wonderful escapes than these,
From furious persecuting men,
From hosts of human savages?
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Aghast we saw the flames aspire,
Till rescued by almighty power,
And pluck'd as brands out of the fire.
Why then, great God, should we despair,
As Thou wert not almighty still,
But deaf to Thy own people's prayer
Who tremble at the' impending ill;
Who will not let the scourge o'erflow,
The desolating judgment come,
But still suspend the final blow,
And screen the land from Sodom's doom.
As Thou wert not almighty still,
But deaf to Thy own people's prayer
Who tremble at the' impending ill;
Who will not let the scourge o'erflow,
The desolating judgment come,
But still suspend the final blow,
And screen the land from Sodom's doom.
Wrestling with Abraham's faithful seed,
Lo! in the gap we humbly stand,
The righteous for the wicked plead,
Protectors of a guilty land.
Thou infinite in gracious power,
With theirs our suppliant suit receive,
Stay the rough wind, the fiery shower,
And for the remnant's sake forgive.
Lo! in the gap we humbly stand,
The righteous for the wicked plead,
Protectors of a guilty land.
Thou infinite in gracious power,
With theirs our suppliant suit receive,
Stay the rough wind, the fiery shower,
And for the remnant's sake forgive.
If now in us Thy Spirit cry,
In ours Thy own request attend;
The Lord of hosts, the Lord most high,
Deliverance to Thine Israel send:
Because Thou art the faithful God,
Our God in every age the same,
Because we trust in Jesu's blood,
And ask the grace in Jesu's name.
In ours Thy own request attend;
The Lord of hosts, the Lord most high,
Deliverance to Thine Israel send:
Because Thou art the faithful God,
Our God in every age the same,
Because we trust in Jesu's blood,
And ask the grace in Jesu's name.
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HYMN V. FOR HIS MAJESTY KING GEORGE.
Jesus, from whom dominion springs,
The faithful Counsellor of kings,
The sovereign Lord Thou art;
Thy Spirit on our king bestow,
Who only dost the mazes know
Of man's deceitful heart.
The faithful Counsellor of kings,
The sovereign Lord Thou art;
Thy Spirit on our king bestow,
Who only dost the mazes know
Of man's deceitful heart.
By factious demagogues gainsaid,
By fawning sycophants betray'd,
Who boast their loyalty,
How can he judge, or choose aright,
Unless assisted by Thy light,
And taught himself by Thee?
By fawning sycophants betray'd,
Who boast their loyalty,
How can he judge, or choose aright,
Unless assisted by Thy light,
And taught himself by Thee?
Do Thou the true discernment give,
Whom to reject, and whom receive
His royal toils to share;
O point him out, where'er conceal'd,
The upright man, with wisdom fill'd,
An empire's weight to bear.
Whom to reject, and whom receive
His royal toils to share;
O point him out, where'er conceal'd,
The upright man, with wisdom fill'd,
An empire's weight to bear.
The man with heavenly courage bold,
Above the lust of fame or gold,
Detach'd and unconfined,
A foe to every selfish end,
Religion's and his country's friend,
A friend to all mankind.
Above the lust of fame or gold,
Detach'd and unconfined,
A foe to every selfish end,
Religion's and his country's friend,
A friend to all mankind.
Not for himself but others made,
His country and his king to aid
With talents large endow'd;
Out of the throng Thy servant choose,
A vessel fitted for Thy use,
And for Britannia's good.
His country and his king to aid
With talents large endow'd;
Out of the throng Thy servant choose,
A vessel fitted for Thy use,
And for Britannia's good.
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Him as a guardian angel send,
Our feuds, and woes, and wars to end,
Our sinking state to raise;
Brethren in lasting bonds to join,
And then confess—the work is Thine,
And give Thee all the praise.
Our feuds, and woes, and wars to end,
Our sinking state to raise;
Brethren in lasting bonds to join,
And then confess—the work is Thine,
And give Thee all the praise.
So shall our happy monarch see
His kingdoms in prosperity,
Through Thy uniting power;
The Source of all our blessings own,
And prostrate at Thy gracious throne
The King of kings adore.
His kingdoms in prosperity,
Through Thy uniting power;
The Source of all our blessings own,
And prostrate at Thy gracious throne
The King of kings adore.
HYMN VI.
[At this most alarming crisis]
At this most alarming crisis,
Shall we not from sin awake,
While the great Jehovah rises,
Terribly the earth to shake?
While He doth a moment spare,
Shall we not attend the rod,
Hear His thunder's voice, “Prepare,
O prepare, to meet your God!”
Shall we not from sin awake,
While the great Jehovah rises,
Terribly the earth to shake?
While He doth a moment spare,
Shall we not attend the rod,
Hear His thunder's voice, “Prepare,
O prepare, to meet your God!”
Compass'd round with hostile nations,
All to our destruction sworn,
God of unexhausted patience,
Still we may to Thee return;
Though Thy peremptory sentence
Absolute perdition sound,
Place there is for true repentance,
Mercy sought may yet be found.
All to our destruction sworn,
God of unexhausted patience,
Still we may to Thee return;
Though Thy peremptory sentence
Absolute perdition sound,
Place there is for true repentance,
Mercy sought may yet be found.
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Still Thou hear'st the mourners sighing
For our wickedness abhorr'd,
Thousands in our Israel crying
Stop, O stop the slaughtering sword!
Drop Thy dreadful controversy,
While we at Thy footstool groan;
Lord, in wrath remember mercy,
Give us to Thy pleading Son!
For our wickedness abhorr'd,
Thousands in our Israel crying
Stop, O stop the slaughtering sword!
Drop Thy dreadful controversy,
While we at Thy footstool groan;
Lord, in wrath remember mercy,
Give us to Thy pleading Son!
By His bloody cross and passion,
By His precious death, we pray,
Turn aside Thine indignation,
Take Thy heaviest plague away;
Sin, the cause of our distresses,
Sin, the bitter root remove,
Then appeased, Thine anger ceases,
Then redeem'd, we praise and love.
By His precious death, we pray,
Turn aside Thine indignation,
Take Thy heaviest plague away;
Sin, the cause of our distresses,
Sin, the bitter root remove,
Then appeased, Thine anger ceases,
Then redeem'd, we praise and love.
HYMN VII. FOR CONCORD.
Divided 'gainst itself so long
How could a kingdom stand,
Had we not a Redeemer, strong
To prop our tottering land?
Had He not left Himself a seed
Who deprecate the woe,
Who day and night for mercy plead,
And still suspend the blow.
How could a kingdom stand,
Had we not a Redeemer, strong
To prop our tottering land?
Had He not left Himself a seed
Who deprecate the woe,
Who day and night for mercy plead,
And still suspend the blow.
Still let Thy praying seed prevail
Our evils to remove,
Till mercy turns the hovering scale,
And justice yields to love;
His king till every Briton owns
With warmest loyalty,
And faction's and rebellion's sons
Stretch out their hands to Thee.
Our evils to remove,
Till mercy turns the hovering scale,
And justice yields to love;
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With warmest loyalty,
And faction's and rebellion's sons
Stretch out their hands to Thee.
Now, Lord, a gracious token show,
The stoutest hearts incline
Their own true happiness to know,
Their common foes' design;
Against ourselves who turn our swords,
That they the spoils may gain,
And rise at last despotic lords,
And by our ruin reign.
The stoutest hearts incline
Their own true happiness to know,
Their common foes' design;
Against ourselves who turn our swords,
That they the spoils may gain,
And rise at last despotic lords,
And by our ruin reign.
Why should the specious fiend deceive
The many by the few?
Saviour, the multitude forgive,
They know not what they do;
They fancy those their country's friends,
Who hasten on its doom,
And blindly serve the treacherous ends
Of tyranny and Rome.
The many by the few?
Saviour, the multitude forgive,
They know not what they do;
They fancy those their country's friends,
Who hasten on its doom,
And blindly serve the treacherous ends
Of tyranny and Rome.
Open their eyes, almighty grace,
The latent snare to see,
That brethren may again embrace
In closest amity:
Britons! no more with Britons fight,
No more our God oppose!
Let Europe then their powers unite,
And all the world be foes.
The latent snare to see,
That brethren may again embrace
In closest amity:
Britons! no more with Britons fight,
No more our God oppose!
Let Europe then their powers unite,
And all the world be foes.
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HYMN VIII. A PRAYER FOR THE CONGRESS.
True is the oracle Divine,
The sentence which Thy lips hath pass'd,
Though hand in hand the wicked join,
They shall not, Lord, escape at last;
Who for a while triumphant seem,
Cursed with their own false hearts' desire,
Their empire is a fleeting dream,
Their hopes shall all in smoke expire.
The sentence which Thy lips hath pass'd,
Though hand in hand the wicked join,
They shall not, Lord, escape at last;
Who for a while triumphant seem,
Cursed with their own false hearts' desire,
Their empire is a fleeting dream,
Their hopes shall all in smoke expire.
Surely Thou wilt full vengeance take
On rebels 'gainst their king and God,
And strictest inquisition make
For rivers spill'd of guiltless blood,
By men who take Thy name in vain,
By fiends in sanctity's disguise,
As Thou wert served with nations slain,
Or pleased with human sacrifice.
On rebels 'gainst their king and God,
And strictest inquisition make
For rivers spill'd of guiltless blood,
By men who take Thy name in vain,
By fiends in sanctity's disguise,
As Thou wert served with nations slain,
Or pleased with human sacrifice.
Thou know'st Thine own appointed time
The' ungodly homicides to quell,
Chastise their complicated crime,
And break their covenant with hell;
Thy plagues shall then o'erwhelm them all,
From proud ambition's summit driven;
And faith foresees the' usurpers fall
As Lucifer cast down from heaven.
The' ungodly homicides to quell,
Chastise their complicated crime,
And break their covenant with hell;
Thy plagues shall then o'erwhelm them all,
From proud ambition's summit driven;
And faith foresees the' usurpers fall
As Lucifer cast down from heaven.
Yet if they have not sinn'd the sin
Which never can obtain Thy grace,
When Tophet yawns to take them in,
And claims them as their proper place,
The authors of our woes forgive,
And snatch their souls from endless woes,
Who wouldst that all mankind should live,
Who diedst Thyself to save Thy foes.
Which never can obtain Thy grace,
When Tophet yawns to take them in,
And claims them as their proper place,
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And snatch their souls from endless woes,
Who wouldst that all mankind should live,
Who diedst Thyself to save Thy foes.
HYMN IX. THY KINGDOM COME!
Jesus, supreme in majesty,
Thy kingdom and Thy glory claim,
For every soul, and every knee
Must bow to Thy tremendous name.
Jehovah, on Jehovah's throne,
Fulness of power to Thee is given;
Thou settest up, and castest down,
And orderest all in earth and heaven.
Thy kingdom and Thy glory claim,
For every soul, and every knee
Must bow to Thy tremendous name.
Jehovah, on Jehovah's throne,
Fulness of power to Thee is given;
Thou settest up, and castest down,
And orderest all in earth and heaven.
We trace Thy footsteps in the deep,
Who dost in previous judgments come,
And with destruction's besom sweep
The earth, to make Thy kingdom room.
The havoc which on earth we see,
The dire effects of human will,
Accomplish Thy unknown decree,
Thy own mysterious mind fulfil.
Who dost in previous judgments come,
And with destruction's besom sweep
The earth, to make Thy kingdom room.
The havoc which on earth we see,
The dire effects of human will,
Accomplish Thy unknown decree,
Thy own mysterious mind fulfil.
Thou sufferest now the evil done,
Where the rebellious multitude
In the New World rush madly on,
O'er hills of slain, through seas of blood:
Their rage for power, their fury blind
Hastens the coming of our Lord;
The good supreme for man design'd,
With paradise on earth restored.
Where the rebellious multitude
In the New World rush madly on,
O'er hills of slain, through seas of blood:
Their rage for power, their fury blind
Hastens the coming of our Lord;
The good supreme for man design'd,
With paradise on earth restored.
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Whate'er the plagues that intervene,
The judgments, and vindictive days,
Saviour, we know the final scene,
The earth renew'd in righteousness,
Descending on Thine azure throne,
Thee in the clouds we soon shall see,
To reign before Thy saints alone,
And then through all eternity.
The judgments, and vindictive days,
Saviour, we know the final scene,
The earth renew'd in righteousness,
Descending on Thine azure throne,
Thee in the clouds we soon shall see,
To reign before Thy saints alone,
And then through all eternity.
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II. PART II.
HYMN X.
[Turn us again, our Saviour God]
Turn us again, our Saviour God,
And let Thy righteous anger cease;
Be satisfied with seas of blood,
Spill'd for our nation's wickedness;
But seas of blood cannot atone
For sins which cost Thee all Thine own.
And let Thy righteous anger cease;
Be satisfied with seas of blood,
Spill'd for our nation's wickedness;
But seas of blood cannot atone
For sins which cost Thee all Thine own.
Thine own, Thine own, for respite cries
When smote a sinner turns to Thee,
And dares not lift his guilty eyes,
But sighs, “Be merciful to me!”
O that with hearts, not garments, rent,
We all might, as one man, repent!
When smote a sinner turns to Thee,
And dares not lift his guilty eyes,
But sighs, “Be merciful to me!”
O that with hearts, not garments, rent,
We all might, as one man, repent!
In vain alas, Thy patience spares
Unless Thy grace our hearts convince,
In vain are all our fasts and prayers
Unless we cast away our sins,
(Of all our woes the bitter root,)
And bear the penitential fruit.
Unless Thy grace our hearts convince,
In vain are all our fasts and prayers
Unless we cast away our sins,
(Of all our woes the bitter root,)
And bear the penitential fruit.
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O that at last the faithful seed,
Who day and night besiege Thy throne,
The just who for our Sodom plead,
Might pray the contrite Spirit down,
On those, who harden'd from Thy fear,
Defy eternal judgments near!
Who day and night besiege Thy throne,
The just who for our Sodom plead,
Might pray the contrite Spirit down,
On those, who harden'd from Thy fear,
Defy eternal judgments near!
Behold them with that pitying eye,
Which wept the bloody city's doom;
Who wouldst not let Thy murderers die;
Who wouldst not let the flames consume,
When urged by fiends implacable,
We hung as o'er the mouth of hell.
Which wept the bloody city's doom;
Who wouldst not let Thy murderers die;
Who wouldst not let the flames consume,
When urged by fiends implacable,
We hung as o'er the mouth of hell.
Hence, by a glimmering ray of hope,
Cheer'd, we presume to sue for grace;
That sin which fills the measure up,
That sin which saints and prophets slays,
That only sin, through grace alone
Restrain'd, Thou know'st, we have not done.
Cheer'd, we presume to sue for grace;
That sin which fills the measure up,
That sin which saints and prophets slays,
That only sin, through grace alone
Restrain'd, Thou know'st, we have not done.
Then let Thy people's suit succeed,
For those that have Thy people spared,
And save them at their greatest need,
By general penitence prepared,
The humbled prodigals receive,
And for Thy own dear sake forgive.
For those that have Thy people spared,
And save them at their greatest need,
By general penitence prepared,
The humbled prodigals receive,
And for Thy own dear sake forgive.
Cut short Thy work in righteousness,
That all Thy gracious work may see;
Born in a day our nation bless,
With pure, primeval piety;
Born in a day, from heaven above,
The day of Thine almighty love.
That all Thy gracious work may see;
Born in a day our nation bless,
With pure, primeval piety;
Born in a day, from heaven above,
The day of Thine almighty love.
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HYMN XI.
[Saviour, whom our hearts adore]
Saviour, whom our hearts adore,
To bless our earth again,
Now assume Thy royal power
And o'er the nations reign:
Christ, the world's Desire and Hope,
Power complete to Thee is given,
Set the last great empire up,
Eternal God of heaven.
To bless our earth again,
Now assume Thy royal power
And o'er the nations reign:
Christ, the world's Desire and Hope,
Power complete to Thee is given,
Set the last great empire up,
Eternal God of heaven.
When Thy foes are swept away,
And meet their righteous doom,
Then Thy Deity display,
And let Thy kingdom come:
Then in the New World appear,
In lands where Thou wast never known,
There the' Imperial standard rear,
And fix Thy favourite throne.
And meet their righteous doom,
Then Thy Deity display,
And let Thy kingdom come:
Then in the New World appear,
In lands where Thou wast never known,
There the' Imperial standard rear,
And fix Thy favourite throne.
Where they all Thy laws have spurn'd,
Thy holiest name profaned,
Where the ruin'd earth hath mourn'd,
With blood of millions slain:
Open there the' ethereal scene,
Claim the savage race for Thine,
There Thy endless reign begin
With majesty Divine.
Thy holiest name profaned,
Where the ruin'd earth hath mourn'd,
With blood of millions slain:
Open there the' ethereal scene,
Claim the savage race for Thine,
There Thy endless reign begin
With majesty Divine.
Universal Saviour, Thou
Wilt all Thy creatures bless,
Every knee to Thee shall bow,
And every tongue confess;
None shall in Thy mount destroy;
War shall then be learn'd no more,
Saints shall their great King enjoy,
And all mankind adore.
Wilt all Thy creatures bless,
Every knee to Thee shall bow,
And every tongue confess;
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War shall then be learn'd no more,
Saints shall their great King enjoy,
And all mankind adore.
Then, according to Thy word,
Salvation is reveal'd;
With Thy glorious knowledge, Lord,
The new-made earth is fill'd;
Then we sound the mystery,
The depths and heights of Godhead prove,
Swallow'd up in mercy's sea,
For ever lost in love.
Salvation is reveal'd;
With Thy glorious knowledge, Lord,
The new-made earth is fill'd;
Then we sound the mystery,
The depths and heights of Godhead prove,
Swallow'd up in mercy's sea,
For ever lost in love.
HYMN XII. FOR THE CONVERSION OF THE FRENCH.
Supreme, immortal Potentate,
Whose will omnipotent is fate,
Who on Thy lofty throne
Dost with unrivall'd glory sit,
Till earth, and heaven, and hell submit,
And bow to Thee alone:
Whose will omnipotent is fate,
Who on Thy lofty throne
Dost with unrivall'd glory sit,
Till earth, and heaven, and hell submit,
And bow to Thee alone:
Hear us, in this our evil day,
Against the treacherous nation pray,
Which by pernicious wiles
Conspires our country to o'erthrow,
And with the wisdom from below
The Christian world embroils.
Against the treacherous nation pray,
Which by pernicious wiles
Conspires our country to o'erthrow,
And with the wisdom from below
The Christian world embroils.
A nation whom no oaths can bind,
The false corrupters of mankind,
The slaves of every lust,
Despiteful, insolent, and proud,
Haters of the Redeeming God,
And murderers of the just.
The false corrupters of mankind,
The slaves of every lust,
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Haters of the Redeeming God,
And murderers of the just.
Fraught with the policy of Rome,
By the old felon led, they come
To scatter, steal, and slay;
Brethren and countrymen divide,
While with gigantic steps they stride
To universal sway.
By the old felon led, they come
To scatter, steal, and slay;
Brethren and countrymen divide,
While with gigantic steps they stride
To universal sway.
Arise, O Lord of hosts, arise,
Open the drowsy nation's eyes,
To see the threaten'd blow;
Europe's unconscious states alarm,
In strict confederacy to arm
Against the common foe.
Open the drowsy nation's eyes,
To see the threaten'd blow;
Europe's unconscious states alarm,
In strict confederacy to arm
Against the common foe.
O let Thy jealousy awake,
Into Thy hand the matter take,
That all Thy hand may see;
Which casts the proud and mighty down,
Which doth the weak and humble crown
With more than victory.
Into Thy hand the matter take,
That all Thy hand may see;
Which casts the proud and mighty down,
Which doth the weak and humble crown
With more than victory.
Compel triumphant Gallia's pride
To own that God is on our side,
Who nothing fear but God:
Nor can their plots or arms succeed,
While in our Saviour's steps we tread,
And glory in His blood.
To own that God is on our side,
Who nothing fear but God:
Nor can their plots or arms succeed,
While in our Saviour's steps we tread,
And glory in His blood.
The wretches, Lord, who Thee blaspheme,
O let Thy blood be heard for them,
Into the furnace cast;
So shall the infidels return,
Look upon Thee they pierced, and mourn,
And 'scape the fire at last.
O let Thy blood be heard for them,
Into the furnace cast;
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Look upon Thee they pierced, and mourn,
And 'scape the fire at last.
HYMN XIII. FOR HER MAJESTY.
Jesus, with complacence see
Her our faith presents to Thee:
Her the choicest gift of heaven,
To our favour'd monarch given.
Her our faith presents to Thee:
Her the choicest gift of heaven,
To our favour'd monarch given.
Given, his joys and griefs to share,
Every toil and every care;
Born to soften his distress,
Born to' ensure his happiness.
Every toil and every care;
Born to soften his distress,
Born to' ensure his happiness.
Her Thou hast on all bestow'd,
Lovely minister of good;
Her in our flagitious days,
Beautified with every grace.
Lovely minister of good;
Her in our flagitious days,
Beautified with every grace.
Virtuous, wise, without pretence,
Meek as lamb-like innocence;
Rival of the saints above,
Object of a nation's love.
Meek as lamb-like innocence;
Rival of the saints above,
Object of a nation's love.
Malice ventures not to blame,
Envy sickens at her name;
General praise is Charlotte's right,
Parties all in this unite.
Envy sickens at her name;
General praise is Charlotte's right,
Parties all in this unite.
Neither man, nor God they spare,
Yet they all are friends to her;
Strangest sight that earth can show,
Goodness lives—without a foe!
Yet they all are friends to her;
Strangest sight that earth can show,
Goodness lives—without a foe!
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Happy that she long may live,
Jesus, all Thy blessings give;
Partner of the British throne,
Count her worthy of Thine own.
Jesus, all Thy blessings give;
Partner of the British throne,
Count her worthy of Thine own.
Let her then triumphant stand,
With the bless'd at Thy right hand;
She, and all her children given,
All ordain'd to reign in heaven.
With the bless'd at Thy right hand;
She, and all her children given,
All ordain'd to reign in heaven.
HYMN XIV. FOR THE ROYAL FAMILY.
Father, to Thee we bring
In faithful, fervent prayer,
The offspring of our gracious king,
Thy own peculiar care.
Acknowledging for Thine,
Into Thy arms receive,
And let them in Thy service join,
And to Thy glory live.
In faithful, fervent prayer,
The offspring of our gracious king,
Thy own peculiar care.
Acknowledging for Thine,
Into Thy arms receive,
And let them in Thy service join,
And to Thy glory live.
From every secret foe,
From every flattering friend,
Who all Thy creatures' hearts dost know,
Their innocence defend:
To make them truly great,
Thy grace to them be given,
And with Thy people's princes seat
The' anointed heirs of heaven.
From every flattering friend,
Who all Thy creatures' hearts dost know,
Their innocence defend:
To make them truly great,
Thy grace to them be given,
And with Thy people's princes seat
The' anointed heirs of heaven.
O may they still approve
Their gratitude to Thee,
And recompense their parents' love
With duteous piety.
Still bow to Thy command,
Till the great King comes down,
And each receives from Jesu's hand
An everlasting crown.
Their gratitude to Thee,
And recompense their parents' love
With duteous piety.
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Till the great King comes down,
And each receives from Jesu's hand
An everlasting crown.
HYMN XV. THANKSGIVING FOR THE SUCCESS OF THE GOSPEL IN AMERICA.
Glory to our redeeming Lord,
Whose kingdom over all presides,
While in the chariot of the word,
And on the whirlwind's wings He rides.
Whose kingdom over all presides,
While in the chariot of the word,
And on the whirlwind's wings He rides.
Nothing His rapid course can stay,
Or stop His government's increase;
Earthquakes and plagues prepare His way,
Wars usher in the Prince of peace.
Or stop His government's increase;
Earthquakes and plagues prepare His way,
Wars usher in the Prince of peace.
Rebellions, massacres, and blood
On every side as water shed,
Are suffer'd by a righteous God,
That happier days may then succeed.
On every side as water shed,
Are suffer'd by a righteous God,
That happier days may then succeed.
Even now His word doth swiftly run,
And saving knowledge multiplies,
And still His gracious work goes on,
And still His temple's walls arise.
And saving knowledge multiplies,
And still His gracious work goes on,
And still His temple's walls arise.
The church is built in troublous times,
(Jehovah the commission gave,)
And God from all their sins and crimes
Would all the sons of Adam save.
(Jehovah the commission gave,)
And God from all their sins and crimes
Would all the sons of Adam save.
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Loving to the whole ransom'd race
He fits His creatures for His use,
In every age and every place
One uniform design pursues.
He fits His creatures for His use,
In every age and every place
One uniform design pursues.
In love He doth His sons chastise,
His desolating judgments send!
Judgments are mercies in disguise,
And all in man's salvation end.
His desolating judgments send!
Judgments are mercies in disguise,
And all in man's salvation end.
Wherefore beneath Thy hand we bow,
And bless each salutary blow;
If what Thou dost we know not now,
We shall, O Lord, hereafter know.
And bless each salutary blow;
If what Thou dost we know not now,
We shall, O Lord, hereafter know.
Shall see Thy footsteps in the' abyss,
Unwind the providential maze,
And own, amidst the general bliss,
Mercy, and truth are all Thy ways.
Unwind the providential maze,
And own, amidst the general bliss,
Mercy, and truth are all Thy ways.
With grateful joy we comprehend
The meaning of the' eternal Mind;
Accept, Thou universal Friend,
The ceaseless praise of all mankind.
The meaning of the' eternal Mind;
Accept, Thou universal Friend,
The ceaseless praise of all mankind.
HYMN XVI.
[God, who wouldst a world forgive]
God, who wouldst a world forgive,
Offerest all sufficient grace;
All may in Thy Son believe,
Numbers do Thy Son embrace;
Numbers saved, from every sect,
Form the church of Thy elect.
Offerest all sufficient grace;
All may in Thy Son believe,
Numbers do Thy Son embrace;
Numbers saved, from every sect,
Form the church of Thy elect.
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Scatter'd o'er the earth they lie,
Sheep with wolves encompass'd round,
Guided by their Shepherd's eye,
Safe they in the fold are found:
Angels all their steps attend,
Serve, and keep them to the end.
Sheep with wolves encompass'd round,
Guided by their Shepherd's eye,
Safe they in the fold are found:
Angels all their steps attend,
Serve, and keep them to the end.
When Thy judgments are abroad,
Them Thou kindly dost conceal,
Hidden in the ark of God,
Shelter'd, they in Zoar dwell;
Find a sanctuary prepared,
Find Omnipotence their guard.
Them Thou kindly dost conceal,
Hidden in the ark of God,
Shelter'd, they in Zoar dwell;
Find a sanctuary prepared,
Find Omnipotence their guard.
Poor, and mean, whom all reject,
Persecute or else despise,
They their enemies protect,
Stay the vengeance of the skies:
Till Thou hast secured Thine own,
Stands the world for them alone.
Persecute or else despise,
They their enemies protect,
Stay the vengeance of the skies:
Till Thou hast secured Thine own,
Stands the world for them alone.
States and empires rise, or fall,
Stands the church till time shall end,
Waiting for the Bridegroom's call,
Listening, longing to ascend,
Fair, and spotless, and complete,
Jesus in the clouds to meet.
Stands the church till time shall end,
Waiting for the Bridegroom's call,
Listening, longing to ascend,
Fair, and spotless, and complete,
Jesus in the clouds to meet.
When the number is fulfill'd,
When the righteous are brought home,
When the mystery is seal'd,
Then the world shall meet its doom,
Earth burn'd up in smoke expire,
Sinners in eternal fire.
When the righteous are brought home,
When the mystery is seal'd,
Then the world shall meet its doom,
Earth burn'd up in smoke expire,
Sinners in eternal fire.
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HYMN XVII.
[Let earth be glad, the Lord is king]
Let earth be glad, the Lord is king,
The multitude of isles may sing,
Britain may still rejoice in Him,
The Lord almighty to redeem,
Who o'er the' impatient heathen reigns,
And holds our furious foes in chains.
The multitude of isles may sing,
Britain may still rejoice in Him,
The Lord almighty to redeem,
Who o'er the' impatient heathen reigns,
And holds our furious foes in chains.
Frowning on us, He seems awhile
On perjured parricides to smile,
Our foes with much long-suffering spares,
A bundle of devoted tares;
But bids us patiently attend
His time, and calmly mark the end!
On perjured parricides to smile,
Our foes with much long-suffering spares,
A bundle of devoted tares;
But bids us patiently attend
His time, and calmly mark the end!
Escaping for their wickedness,
Triumphant in their sure success,
Off from their necks the yoke they shake,
And as meek saints the kingdom take,
And 'stablish, both by land and sea,
The fifth, the final monarchy.
Triumphant in their sure success,
Off from their necks the yoke they shake,
And as meek saints the kingdom take,
And 'stablish, both by land and sea,
The fifth, the final monarchy.
Yet instruments of Thy design,
The kingdom is not theirs, but Thine,
Who dost with wisdom deep employ
Thy foes each other to destroy,
And use, beyond their own intent,
To shock, and purge the Continent.
The kingdom is not theirs, but Thine,
Who dost with wisdom deep employ
Thy foes each other to destroy,
And use, beyond their own intent,
To shock, and purge the Continent.
Extirpating the' ungodly race,
With whom wilt Thou supply their place?
With Israel's tribes so long conceal'd?
Just Jews, and real Christians fill'd?
With savages through Jesu's blood
Redeem'd, and seal'd the sons of God?
With whom wilt Thou supply their place?
With Israel's tribes so long conceal'd?
Just Jews, and real Christians fill'd?
With savages through Jesu's blood
Redeem'd, and seal'd the sons of God?
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America, we trust shall show
Thy glorious kingdom fix'd below,
A kingdom of perennial peace,
Pure joy, and perfect righteousness,
Not of this world, but that above,
Where all is harmony and love.
Thy glorious kingdom fix'd below,
A kingdom of perennial peace,
Pure joy, and perfect righteousness,
Not of this world, but that above,
Where all is harmony and love.
Then shall Thy whole design be seen,
How far beyond the thoughts of men!
When all authority put down,
All powers are swallow'd up in one,
And challenging Thy right Divine,
Thou claim'st the universe for Thine.
How far beyond the thoughts of men!
When all authority put down,
All powers are swallow'd up in one,
And challenging Thy right Divine,
Thou claim'st the universe for Thine.
Then shall we Hallelujah sing,
Angels and saints, to Christ our King,
Loud as the mighty waters' noise,
Loud as the rattling thunder's voice,
“The' Omnipotent His sway maintains,
The Lord, our God, for ever reigns!”
Angels and saints, to Christ our King,
Loud as the mighty waters' noise,
Loud as the rattling thunder's voice,
“The' Omnipotent His sway maintains,
The Lord, our God, for ever reigns!”
FINIS.
| The poetical works of John and Charles Wesley | |