Hymns Occasioned by the Earthquake, 5

From whence these dire portents around,
That strike us with unwonted fear?
Why do these earthquakes rock the ground,
And threaten our destruction near?
Ye prophets smooth, the cause explain.
And lull us to repose again.

"Or water swelling for a vent.
Or air impatient to get free,
Or fire within earth's entrails pent j"
Yet all are order'd, Lord, by Thee;
The elements obey Thy nod,
And nature vindicates her God.

The pillars of the earth are Thine,
And Thou hast set the world thereon;
They at Thy threatening look incline,
The centre trembles at Thy frown.
The everlasting mountains bow,
And God is in the earthquake now!

Now, Lord, to shake Our guilty land,
Thou dost in indignation rise;
We see, we see Thy lifted hand
Made bare a nation to chastise.
Whom neither plagues nor mercies move
To fear Thy wrath or court Thy love.

Therefore the earth beneath us reels.
And staggers like our drunken men.
The earth the mournful cause reveals,
And groans our burden to sustain;
Ordain'd our evils to deplore.
And fall with us to rise no more.
To a subsequent editioii published in 1756 there was
added th€ following Hymn?