LXXXIII. The Stupidity of Israel, and of Britain lamented.

LORD, when thine Israel we survey,
We in their Crimes discern our own;
And if thou turn our Pray'r away,
Our Mis'ry must, like their's, be known.

To us thy Prophets have been sent,
With Words of Terror and of Love;
But nor the Vengeance, nor the Grace
Ten thousand stubborn Hearts will move.

Our Eyes are blind, and deaf our Ears;
Our Hearts are hard'ned into Stone;
As we would bear thy Mercy out,
And leave a Way for Wrath alone.

Justly our GOD might give us up
To Plague and Famine and the Sword;
Till Towns and Cities rich and fair
Lay desolate without a Lord.

O'er bleeding Wounds of slaughter'd Friends
Rivers of helpless Grief might flow,
Till the fierce Conqu'ror's haughty Rage
Drag'd us to Chains and Slaughter too.

But spare a Nation long thine own,
And shew new Miracles of Grace;
'Tis thine to heal the Deaf and Blind,
And wake the Dead to Life and Praise.