Classic Poem

WHEN direful judgments pour in like a flood,
And fields, Alas! are drench'd with human blood;
When armies after armies prostrate lie,
And brother, by his brother's hand must die;
When kingdoms seem to rise, or empires fall,
One great Omnipotent conducts it all;
And those have but a superficial scan,
Who view no higher origin than man.

Be still, methinks I hear J EHOVAH cry,
Be still before your God , and know 'tis I!
'Tis I make peace, and I create stern war,
And ride to battle in my flaming car;
I guide the bullet, point the glitt'ring sword,
Defeat, or conquest, wait my awful word.
But do I pleasure in destruction take,
Or have your sins not bid the sword awake?
Do not a nation's sad offences fall,
For national calamities to call?

Great Sov'reign L ORD , we own thy judgements just,
And hide our guilty faces in the dust;
Rejoice to hear a day is sanctify'd
T' implore thy aid, and humble Britain's pride.
But may we not in this incur the rod,
And make a solemn mockery of God ?
To abstain from food, to take our prayer-books,
And walk to church with evangelic looks;
To bend the knee, or move the lips in prayer,
If all the heart be not engaged there,
Is empty shew, a poor external part,
While God , the omniscient God , demands the heart;
And should we fail in this grand sacrifice,
The whole would be offensive in his eyes.

Descend, Celestial Dove, with holy fire,
And pure devotion ev'ry soul inspire.
May vital pray'r, express'd by ardent sighs,
Ascend to God , and penetrate the skies.
Let all the nation thus with fasting turn,
And hearts sincere, their past transgressions mourn;
Then is eternal truth engag'd to bless,
And crown our joint petitions with success.