Hymns for the Year 1756, 15

Righteous God, whose vengeful vials
All our fears and thoughts exceed,
Big with woes and fiery trials.
Hanging, bursting o'er our head:
While Thou visitest the nations,
Thy selected people spare.
Arm our caution'd souls with patience,
Fill our humbled hearts with prayer.

If Thy dreadful controversy
With all flesh is now begun,
In Thy wrath remember mercy,
Mercy first and last be shown:
Plead Thy cause with sword and fire,
Shake us till the curse remove,
Till Thou com'st the world's Desire,
Conquering all with sovereign love.

By the signals of Thy coming
Soon, we know, Thou wilt appear.
Evil with Thy breath consuming,
Setting up Thy kingdom here:
Thy last heavenly revelation
These tremendous plagues forerun,
Judgment ushers in salvation,
Seats Thee on Thy glorious throne.

Earth unhinged, as from her basis.
Owns her great Restorer nigh
Plunged in complicate distresses
Poor distracted sinners cry:
Men their instant doom deploring.
Faint beneath their fearful load;
Ocean working, rising, roaring,
Claps his hands, to meet his God.

Every fresh alarming token
More confirms Thy faithful word,
Nature for its Lord hath spoken)
Must be suddenly restored;
From this national confusion,
From this ruin'd earth and skies,
See the times of restitution.
See the new creation rise!

Vanish then the world of shadows.
Pass the former things away;
Lord, appear, appear to glad us
With the dawn of endless day:
O conclude this mortal story,
Throw this universe aside.
Come, eternal King of Glory,
Now descend, and take Thy bride.