Hymns, Selected and Original ‎#604

604. The spring, great God, at thy command

1 The spring, great God, at thy command,
Leads forth the smiling year;
Gay verdure, foliage, blooms and flowers
To adorn her reign, appear.

2 But soon canst thou in righteous wrath
Blast all the promis'd joy,
And elements await thy nod
To bless or to destroy.

3 The sun, thy minister of love,
That from the naked ground
Calls forth the hidden seeds to birth,
And spreads their beauties round:

4 At the dread order of his God,
Now darts destructive fires;
Hills, plains, and vales, are parch'd with drought,
And blooming life expires.

5 Like burnish'd brass, the heaven around
In angry terror burns,
While the earth lies a joyless waste,
And into iron turns.

6 Pity us, Lord, in our distress,
Nor with our land contend;
Bid the avenging skies relent,
And showers of mercy send!

Text Information

• First Line: The spring, great God, at thy command
• Meter: C. M.
• Publication Date: 1828
• Topic: Summer and Harvest; Threatening Drought
• Notes: Now Public Domain.

Tune Information

(No tune information)