Wesley Corpus

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 th' infallible design, Confound our proud, triumphant foes, And claim this ransom'd land for thine. Page 8 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. Thy providence revers'd 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 restor'd. 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. Why then, great God, should we despair, As thou wert not almighty still, But deaf to thy own people's prayer Who tremble at th' 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, Page 9 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. 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.