Doctor Watts's Imitation of the Psalms of David ‎#203

203. Idolatry reproved

1 Not to our names, thou only just and true
Not to our worthless names is glory due:
Thy power and grace, thy truth and justice claim
Immortal honours to thy sovereign name;
Shine thro' the earth from heaven thy blest abode,
Nor let the heathens say, And where's your God.

2 Heaven is thine higher court there stands thy throne
And through the lower worlds thy will is done:
God fram'd this earth, the starry heavens he spread,
But fools adore the gods their hands have made;
The kneeling croud, with looks devout behold
Their silver saviours, and their saints of gold.

3 [Vain are those artful shapes of eyes and ears!
The molten image neither sees nor hears;
Their hands are helpless, nor their feet can move,
They have no speech, nor thought, nor power, nor love;
Yet sottish mortals make their long complaints
To their deaf idols, and their moveless saints.

4 The rich have statutes well adorn'd with gold;
The poor content with gods of coarser mould,
With tools of iron carve the senseless stock
Lopt from a tree, or broken from a rock;
People and priests drive on the solemn trade,
And trust the gods that saws and hammers made.

5 Be heaven and earth amaz'd! 'Tis hard to say
Which is more stupid, or their gods, or they:
O Israel trust the Lord: He hears and sees,
He knows thy sorrows and restores thy peace:
His worship does a thousand comforts yield,
He is thy help, and he thine heavenly shield.

6 In God we trust; our impious foes in vain
Attempt our ruin and oppose his reign;
Had they prevail'd darkness had clos'd our days,
And death and silence had forbid his praise:
But we are sav'd, and live: Let songs arise,
And Zion bless the God that built the skies.

Text Information

• First Line: Not to our names, thou only just and true
• Title: Idolatry reproved
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1790
• Scripture:
  Psalm 115
• Topic: God: our Defense and Salvation; Idolatry reproved
• Notes: Second Metre. As the New Tune of the 50th Psalm

Tune Information

(No tune information)