Miscellaneous Pieces in Verse and Prose ‎#123

123. On a day of prayer for success in war

Lord, how shall wretched sinners dare
Look up to thy divine abode?
Or offer their imperfect prayer
Before a just, a holy God?

Bright terrors guard thy awful seat,
And dazling glories veil thy face!
Yet mercy calls us to thy feet,
Thy throne is still a throne of grace.

O may our souls thy grace adore,
May Jesus plead our humble claim;
While thy protection we implore,
In his prevailing, glorious name.

With all the boasted pomp of war
In vain we dare the hostile field:
In vain, unless the Lord be there;
Thy arm alone is Britain's shield.

Let past experience of thy care
Support our hope, our trust invite!
Again attend our humble prayer,
Again be thy mercy thy delight!

Our arms succeed, our councils guide,
Let thy right hand our cause maintain;
'Till war's destructive rage subside,
And peace resume her gentle reign.

O when shall time the period bring
When raging war shall waste no more;
When peace shall stretch her balmy wing
From Europe's coast to India's shore?

When shall the gospel's healing ray
(Kind source of amity divine!)
Spread o'er the world celestial day?
When shall the nations, Lord, be thine?

Text Information

• First Line: Lord, how shall wretched sinners dare
• Title: On a day of prayer for success in war
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1780

Tune Information

(No tune information)