Doctor Watts's Imitation of the Psalms of David ‎#83

83. The Church's Complaint in Persecution

1 Lord, we have heard thy works of old,
Thy works of power and grace,
When to our ears our fathers told,
The wonder of their days.

2 They saw the beauteous churches rise,
The spreading gospel run;
While light and glory from the skies
Through all their temples shone.

3 In God they boasted all the day,
And in a cheerful throng
Did thousands meet to praise and pray,
And grace was all their song.

4 But now our souls are seiz'd with shame,
Confusion fills our face,
To hear the enemy blaspheme,
And fools reproach thy grace.

5 Yet have we not forgot our God,
Nor falsely dealt with heaven,
Nor have our steps declin'd the road
Of duty thou hast given.

6 Though dragons all around us roar
With their destructive breath,
And thine own hand has bruis'd us sore,
Hard by the gates of death.

Pause.

7 We are expos'd all day to die,
As martyrs for thy name;
As sheep for slaughter bound we lie,
And wait the kindling flame.

8 Awake, arise, almighty Lord,
Why sleeps thy wonted grace?
Why should we look like men abhor'd,
Or banish'd from thy face?

9 Wilt thou forever cast us off,
And still neglect our cries?
Forever hide thine heavenly love
From our afflicted eyes?

10 Down to the dust our soul is bow'd,
And dies upon the ground;
Rise for our help, rebuke the proud,
And all their powers confound.

11 Redeem us from perpetual shame,
Our Saviour and our God;
We plead the honours of thy name,
The merits of thy blood.

Text Information

• First Line: Lord, we have heard thy works of old
• Title: The Church's Complaint in Persecution
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1787
• Scripture:
  Psalm 44:1-3
  ;
  Psalm 44:8
  ;
  Psalm 44:15
  ;
  Psalm 44:26
• Topic: Church: its beauty; Patience: under Persecution; Persecuted Saints; Persecutors: complained of

Tune Information

(No tune information)