Classic Poem

O To the Lord restore your thanks,
Invoke his name in pray'r;
And to the people of all ranks
His wond'rous works declare.

O let your holy songs ascend
In ecstasy of praise,
And let your conversation tend
His miracles to blaze.

With joy his hallow'd name revere,
And let your mirth aspire;
And let their hearts be of good cheer
Which after him enquire.

Seek ye the Lord, and pay your court
For ever to his might;
Your bodies and your souls deport
Toward his heav'nly light.

Remember his stupendous hand
The blessings it conferr'd;
His visitations dreadful grand,
And judgments of his word.

O ye that from his servant rose
The fruit of Abraham's loins;
Ye sons of Jacob, whom he chose,
And from the world disjoins.

He is the Lord our God alone,
And from our faithful tribes
His truth o'er all the world is sown,
And laws which he prescribes.

He has been mindful of the deed
Where love and truth engage;
To bless and raise the patriarch's seed,
Ev'n to the thousandth age.

The grant at first for Abraham made,
Which still his oath confirms,
And then to Isaac was convey'd
Upon as easy terms.

And therewith Jacob in his turn
Was order'd to comply;
A law of infinite concern
And everlasting tie.

Importing “I will give to thee
A land of wine and oil,
And thou shalt peace and plenty see
In Canaan's pleasant soil.”

And this high grace he deign'd to shew
To pilgrims on the road,
When Israel was yet but few,
And of no fixt abode.

What time they with their flocks and kine
Thro' various nations rang'd;
And led by providence divine
So many climes they chang'd.

No man could hurt their goods or lives
As they their tents remov'd,
And for the virtue of their wives
He mighty kings reprov'd.

“Touch not mine elders, on whose head
I've pour'd my hallow'd cruse,
And save my prophets from the dread
Of insult and abuse.”

Moreover, he the famine sent,
Which in their coasts prevail'd;
Till all their corn and bread was spent,
And their provision fail'd.

But still extremities to stave
He sped a man before;
E'n Joseph, who was made a slave
The plenty to restore.

Whose feet they in the stocks enthrall'd,
And to the soul they pierc'd;
For in the spirit he was gall'd
To find himself amerc'd.

Until his hardship in his youth
Was weigh'd, and cause was heard;
And by the Lord's prophetic truth
His innocence appear'd.

His words of peace the king convince—
Who straight his bounds enlarg'd,
And Egypt's fierce despotic prince
His jeopardy discharg'd.

And as he took him from his ward
Proceeded to console,
By making him a mighty lord
All Egypt to controul.

To teach their princes to conduct
Themselves by virtue's rule,
And all their senators instruct
In wisdom's godly school.

And Israel drove his herds and flocks
Where he was Pharaoh's guest,
And Jacob with his silver locks
Th' Egyptian monarch blest.

And by his grace his people rose
To be a mighty host;
And they were stronger than their foes
In their wide-peopl'd coast.

Whose heart was chang'd to black deceit
From friendship and good will;
The men with cruelty to treat,
And put in chains and kill.

Then Moses his command appoints
To succour their complaint,
And by the Holy Ghost anoints
Great Aaron for his saint.

And these applied his vengeful rod
Against their hate and guile,
And shew'd the miracles of God
In all the coasts of Nile.

He sent the dark till it was felt,
And grievous was the gloom;
Nor yet their hearts with pity melt,
But stiffly still presume.

He turn'd their waters into blood
As they rebell'd the more;
And fishes choak'd in such a flood
Were thrown upon the shore.

The pools o'erflow'd with frogs unclean
Which on the land were heap'd,
And were in royal chambers seen,
And on the couches leap'd.

He spake—and of a thousand forms
Came flies of deadly sting,
And filthy lice in swarms on swarms
On pompous garments cling.

The hail in massy stones he shot
The trees and herbs to wound;
And 'midst the show'r the lightnings hot
Came flashing on the ground.

He smote their vines and fig-trees void
Of blossom, leaf, and fruit;
And all their woods and groves destroy'd,
By breaking branch and root.

He spoke—the caterpillars came,
And locust with his pow'rs,
A numerous troop, to mar and maim
The tender grass and flow'rs.

The first born of the land he smote,
And caus'd a gen'ral grief,
Their youths of most especial note,
And of their strength the chief.

He brought them forth with gems and gold,
And led himself the van;
Nor could they in their tribes behold
One feeble child or man.

Egypt was glad when all their force
From their domains decamp'd,
Such terror added to remorse
Had their oppressors dampt.

A cloud its milder light reflects
Their rout by day to guide;
And fire their nightly march directs
From heav'n itself supply'd.

While to his name with cries they sought,
As life had been at stake,
Innumerable quails he brought,
The bread of heav'n he brake.

He call'd forth water from the veins
Of marble to their thirst,
So much, that on the desart plains
A new-form'd river burst.

For wherefore? he remember'd well
His covenant of grace,
When faithful Abraham meekly fell
Before him on his face.

Thus he his people to release
Kept angels in employ,
And led his heritage in peace,
His chosen flock with joy.

And he transferr'd into their hands
The heathen's vine to dress;
And all their labours and their lands
To people and possess;

That they might worship him, and serve
For more abundant cause,
And with fidelity observe
The dictates of his laws.