Hymns for the National Fast, 11, Part 1

Lord of Hosts, and God Most High,
Canst Thou a nation bless.
Who Thy providence deny.
And rob Thee of Thy praise?
Of their fleets and armies boast
For sure success and victory.
In themselves entirely trust,
And never look to Thee?
Thee the Christian-infidels
From Thy own world exclude,
"Skill and stratagem prevails,
And strength and multitude;"
They on these alone depend,
And if Thou make Thy mercy known,
If Thine arm deliverance send.
They cry "'Tis all their own."
Fifty thousand Britotis brave
To the New JVorld pass o'er.
Never yet the' Atlantic wave
So huge a burden bore:
Who the prowess can withstand
Of fleets and hosts invincible?
Lo, they fly, they reach the land,
They see, and conquer all.
But if Thou in anger frown.
No longer on their side,
O how suddenly cast down.
They suffer for their pride!
Let but one his trust betray,
A sad reverse their legions know,
Yield, and waste, and sink away
Before a conquer'd foe!
Yet the' infatuated crowd
Will not Thy hand confess.
When Thou dost abase the proud,
And when the abject raise;
When they pass beneath the yoke,
Thy scourge the chance of war they call;
In the instruments o'erlook
The sovereign Cause of all.
But the men who fear Thy name
Thy power and wisdom own;
Now as yesterday the same
Thou sittest on the throne.
Good, the creature of Thy will.
Thou only dost to mortals send;
Only Thou permittest ill.
Which all in good shall end.
In this last tremendous blow,
Thy righteousness we see,
Thousands taken by the foe,
Though flush'd with victory:
Scandal of the British name.
Their brethren they no more oppress;
Let their glory end in shame,
And let their rapines cease.
Such their country's cause to fight
Thou wilt not, Lord, employ,
Without human power or might
Who canst our foes destroy;
When the conquerors come, prepared
To execute their furious boasts,
Then Thy mighty arm is bared,
And scatters all their hosts.

Vapours, fire, and hail, and snow
Are servants of our Lord,
Winds by Thy direction blow,
And storms fulfil Thy word;
Storms go forth at Thy command.
And with resistless fury sweep.
Dash our foes against the strand.
Or plunge them in the deep.

This the Lord Himself hath done,
Which, wondrous in our eyes.
Fills us who Thy love have known
With rapturous surprise.
Jesus, at whose throne we bow,
In Thee we full affiance have;
Surely Thou hast saved us now,
And shalt for ever save.
HYMN Xn.