History & Politics

National Judgments and Mercies a Call to Repentance, Nov. 1757

by Anne Steele 1717–1778

From The Works of Mrs. Anne Steele (Boston, 1808)

History & Politics

Long has divine compassion strove
With this rebellious land;
O justice, long has pleading love
Withheld thy dreadful hand.

At length, ye Britons, lift your eyes,
Your crimes no more pursue;
Behold the gath'ring tempest rise,
And tremble at the view!

See, fraught with vengeance, how it spreads!
To mercy instant fly;
Ere yet it burst upon your heads,
Repent, repent — or die.

Late raging storm', 'twas mercy stay'd,
Her voice destruction heard,
Th' impetuous winds her voice obey'd,
And awful justice spar'd.

Shall every warning be in vain
Your ruin to prevent?
Indulgent mercy calls again,
Return, repent! repent!

The voice, ye Britons, hear with awe?
O hear, and turn to God;
Lest mercy, long abus'd, withdraw,
And leave you to the rod.

Almighty God, thy pow'rful grace
Can change us, and forgive;
Can save a guilty rebel race,
And say, Repent, and live,

O let thy pow'rful grace appear,
And justice sheath her sword;
Then shall a rescu'd nation fear,
And love, and praise the Lord.

MLA

Steele, Anne. “National Judgments and Mercies a Call to Repentance, Nov. 1757.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/steele_anne/167/.

Chicago

Steele, Anne. “National Judgments and Mercies a Call to Repentance, Nov. 1757.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/steele_anne/167/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

More by Anne Steele