With tears the nation’s sins lament,
The church’s, and our own.
IX
The humble souls who mourn and pray
The Lord approves and knows;
His mark secures them in the day
When vengeance strikes his foes.
Fast Day Hymns
65
Confession and Prayer. Dec. 13, 1776
By Newton
I
Oh may the pow’r which melts the rock
Be felt by all assembled here!
Or else our service will but mock
The God whom we profess to fear.
II
Lord, while thy judgments shake the land,
Thy people’s eyes are fix’d on thee!
We own thy just uplifted hand,
Which thousands cannot, will not see.
III
How long hast thou bestow’d thy care
On this indulged ungrateful spot,
While other nations far and near
Have envied and admired our lot!
IV
Here peace and liberty have dwelt,
The glorious gospel brightly shone;
And oft our enemies have felt
That God has made our cause his own.
V
But ah! both heaven and earth have heard
Our vile requital of his love!
We, whom like children he has rear’d,
Rebels against his goodness prove.
VI
His grace despised, his power defied,
And legions of the blackest crimes,
Profaneness, riot, lust, and pride,
Are signs that mark the present times.
VII
The Lord displeased has raised his rod:
Ah, where are now the faithful few
Who tremble for the ark of God,
And know what Isr’el ought to do?
VIII
Lord, hear thy people everywhere,
Who meet to mourn, confess, and pray;
The nation and thy churches spare,
And let thy wrath be turn’d away!
66
Moses and Amalek
By Newton
Exodus 17:9. Feb. 27, 1778.
I
While Joshua led the armed bands
Of Israel forth to war;
Moses apart with lifted hands
Engaged in humble pray’r.
II
The armed bands had quickly fail’d,
And perish’d in the fight,
If Moses’ pray’r had not prevail’d
To put the foes to flight.
III
When Moses’ hands through weakness dropp’d
The warriors fainted too;
Isr’el’s success at once was stopp’d,
And Am’lek bolder grew.
IV
A people, always prone to boast,
Were taught by this suspense,
That not a num’rous armed host,
But God, was their defence.
V
We now of fleets and armies vaunt,
And ships and men prepare;
But men like Moses most we want,
To save the state by pray’r.
VI
Yet, Lord, we hope thou hast prepared
A hidden few to-day,
(The nation’s secret strength and guard,)
To weep and mourn and pray.
VII
Oh hear their pray’rs, and grant us aid,
Bid war and discord cease;
Heal the sad breach which sin has made,
And bless us all with peace.
67
The Hiding-Place. Feb. 10, 1779
By Newton
I
See the gloomy gath’ring cloud,
Hanging o’er a sinful land!
Sure the Lord proclaims aloud,
Times of trouble are at hand.
Happy they who love his name,
They shall always find him near;
Though the earth were wrapp’d in flame,
They have no just cause for fear.
II
Hark! his voice in accents mild,
(Oh, how comforting and sweet!)
Speaks to every humble child,
Pointing out a sure retreat!
Come and in my chambers hide,
To my saints of old well known;
There you safely may abide
Till the storm be overblown.
III
You have only to repose
On my wisdom, love, and care;
When my wrath consumes my foes,
Mercy shall my children spare:
While they perish in the flood,
You that bear my holy mark,
Sprinkled with atoning blood,
Shall be safe within the ark.
IV
Sinners, see the ark prepared!
Haste to enter while there’s room!
Though the Lord his arm has bared,
Mercy still retards your doom:
Seek him while there yet is hope,
Ere the day of grace be past,
Lest in wrath he give you up,
And this call should prove your last.
68
On the Earthquake. Sept. 8, 1775
By Newton
I
Although on massy pillars built,
The earth has lately shook:
It trembles under Britain’s guilt
Before its Maker’s look.
II
Swift as the shock amazement spreads,
And sinners tremble too;
What flight can screen their guilty heads,
If earth itself pursue?
III
But mercy spared us while it warn’d—
The shock is felt no more:
And mercy, now, alas! is scorn’d
By sinners, as before.
IV
But if these warnings prove in vain,
Say, sinner, canst thou tell
How soon the earth may quake again,
And open wide to hell?
V
Repent before the Judge draws nigh;
Or else, when he comes down,
Thou wilt in vain for earthquakes cry,
To hide thee from his frown.
VI
But happy they who love the Lord,
And his salvation know;
The hope that’s founded on his word,
No change can overthrow.
VII
Should the deep-rooted hills be hurl’d,
And plunged beneath the seas,
And strong convulsions shake the world,
Your hearts may rest in peace.
VIII
Jesus, your Shepherd, Lord, and Chief,
Shall shelter you from ill,
And not a worm or shaking leaf
Can move but at his will.
69
On the Fire at Olney. Sept. 22, 1777
By Newton
I
Wearied by day with toils and cares,
How welcome is the peaceful night!
Sweet sleep our wasted strength repairs,
And fits us for returning light.
II
Yet when our eyes in sleep are closed,
Our rest may break ere well begun;
To dangers every hour exposed
We neither can foresee nor shun.
III
’Tis of the Lord that we can sleep
A single night without alarms;
His eye alone our lives can keep
Secure amidst a thousand harms.
IV
For months and years of safety past
Ungrateful we, alas! have been;
Though patient long, he spoke at last,
And bid the fire rebuke our sin.
V
The shout of fire! a dreadful cry,
Impress’d each heart with deep dismay,
While the fierce blaze and redd’ning sky
Made midnight wear the face of day.
VI
The throng and terror who can speak?
The various sounds that fill’d the air!
The infant’s wail, the mother’s shriek,
The voice of blasphemy and pray’r!
VII
But pray’r prevail’d, and saved the town;
The few who loved the Saviour’s name
Were heard, and mercy hasted down,
To change the wind and stop the flame.
