The signs which God to Gideon gave

1 The signs which God to Gideon gave,
His holy sovereignty make known;
That he alone has power to save,
And claims the glory as his own.

2 The dew which first the fleece had fill'd,
When all the earth was dry around;
Was from it afterwards withheld,
And only fell upon the ground.

3 To Israel thus the heav'nly dew,
Of saving truth, was long restrain'd;
Of which the gentiles nothing knew,
But dry and desolate remain'd.

4 But now the gentiles have receiv'd
The balmy dew of gospel grace;
And Israel, who his spirit griev'd,
Is left a dry, and empty fleece.

5 This dew still falls at his command,
To keep his chosen plants alive,
They shall, tho' in a thirsty land,
Like willows by the waters thrive.

6 But chiefly when his people meet,
To hear his word, and seek his face:
The gentle dew, with influence sweet,
Descends, and nourishes their grace.

7 But ah! what numbers still are dead,
Tho' under means of grace they life,
The dew still falling round their head,
And yet their hearts untouch'd, and dry.

8 Dear Savior, hear us when we call;
To wrestling prayer an answer give;
Pour down thy dew upon us all,
That all may feel, and all may life.

Divine Hymns of Spiritual Songs, 1802

• MIDI file from The Cyber Hymnal #12174