National Judgments Deprecated, on the Fast, Feb. 11, 1757

While justice waves her vengeful hand
Tremendous o'er a guilty land.
Almighty God, thy awful pow'r
With fear and trembling we adore.

Where shall we fly, but to thy feet?
Our only refuge is thy seat;
Thy seat, where potent mercy pleads,
And holds thy thunder from our heads.

While peace and plenty bless'd our days,
Where was the tribute of thy praise?
Ungrateful race! how have we spent
The blessings which thy goodness lent?

Pale famine now, and wasting war,
With threat'ning frown thy wrath declare;
But war and famine are thy slaves,
Nor can destroy when mercy saves.

Look down, O Lord, with pitying eye;
Though loud our crimes for vengeance cry,
Let mercy's louder voice prevail,
Nor thy long-suffering patience fail.

Encourag'd by thy sacred word,
May we not plead the blest record,
That when a humbled nation mourns,
Thy rising wrath to pity turns.

O let thy sov'reign grace impart
Contrition to each rocky heart,
And bid sincere repentance flow,
A gen'ral, undissembled woe.

Our arms, O God of armies, bless,
Thy hand alone can give success,
And make our haughty neighbours own
That heav'n protects the British throne.

Fair smiling peace again restore,
With plenty bless the pining poor,
And may a happy thankful land
Obedient own thy guardian hand.