A Selection of Hymns ‎#DXXV

DXXV. For a Public Fast

1 See, gracious God, before thy throne
Thy mourning people bend!
'Tis on thy sovereign grace alone,
Our humble hopes depend.

2 Tremendous judgments from thy hand,
Thy dreadful power display;
Yet mercy spares this guilty land,
And still we live to pray.

3 Great God, and why is Britain spar'd,
Ungrateful as we are!
O make thy awful warnings heard,
While mercy cries "forbear."

4 What numerous crimes increasing rise,
Thro' this apostate Isle!
What land so favor'd of the skies,
And yet what land so vile?

5 How chang'd alas! are truths divine,
For error, guilt, and shame!
What impious numbers, bold in sin,
Disgrace the christian name!

6 Regardless of thy smile or frown,
Their pleasures they require;
And sink with gay indifference down
To everlasting fire.

7 O turn us, turn us, mighty Lord,
By thy resistless grace;
Then shall our hearts obey thy word,
And humbly seek thy face.

8 Then, should insulting foes invade,
We shall not sink in fear;
Secure of never-failing aid,
If God, our God, is near.

Text Information

• First Line: See, gracious God, before thy throne
• Title: For a Public Fast
• Meter: C. M.
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1792
• Topic: Times and Seasons: Days of Humiliation; Fast day hymns; National prayer and praise

Tune Information

(No tune information)