Because Thy lingering love defers

Because Thy lingering love defers
The long indebted punishment,
From time to time the wicked spares,
Their heart on evil fully bent
Disdains the punishment to fear.
And mocks at the destruction near.

Will they believe the spoiler nigh,
Or tremble at the slaughtering sword?
Safe in the toils of hell they lie,
Deaf to the watchman's warning word,
"Nor God nor man their hurt intends,
And death and Trophet are their friends.

Or if the danger they confess,
The danger on their foes they turn,
"Those treacherous enemies to peace,
Those objects of their hate and scorn.
Let the presumptuous aliens come.
And rush upon their instant doom,"

Blind with intoxicating pride,
(Sad prelude of a nation's fall!)
They wholly in themselves confide,
Nor on the Lord of armies call,
Nor humbly at Thy footstool own
Salvation is from God alone.