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"But if his heirs my law forsake,
and from my sacred precepts stray;
If they my righteous statutes break,
nor strictly my commands obey:"
"Their sins I'll visit with a rod,
and for their folly make them smart;
Yet will not cease to be their God,
nor from my truth, like them, depart."
"My cov'nant I will ne'er revoke,
but in remembrance fast retain:
The thing that once my lips have spoke
shall in eternal force remain."
"Once have I sworn, but once for all,
and made my holiness the tie,
That I my grant will ne'er recall,
nor to my servant David lie."
"Whose throne and race the constant sun
shall, like his course, established see;
Of this my oath, thou conscious moon,
in heav'n my faithful witness be."
Such was thy gracious promise, Lord;
but thou hast now our tribes forsook;
Thy own anointed hast abhorred,
and turned on him thy wrathful look.
Thou seemest to have rendered void
the cov'nant with thy servant made;
Thou hast his dignity destroyed,
and in the dust his honor laid,
Of strong holds thou hast him bereft,
and brought his bulwarks to decay;
His frontier coasts defenseless left,
a public scorn and common prey.
His ruin does glad triumphs yield
to foes advanced by thee to might;
Thou hast his conqu'ring sword unsteeled,
his valor turned to shameful flight.
His glory is to darkness fled,
his throne is leveled with the ground;
His youth to wretched bondage led,
with shame o'erwhelmed and sorrow drowned.
How long shall we thy absence mourn
wilt thou for ever, Lord, retire?
Shall thy consuming anger burn,
till that and we at once expire?
Consider, Lord, how short a space
thou dost for mortal life ordain;
No method to prolong the race,
but loading it With grief and pain.
What man is he that can control
death's strict unalterable doom?
Or rescue from the grave his soul,
the grave that must mankind entomb?
Lord, where's thy love, thy boundless grace,
the oath to which thy truth did seal,
Consigned to David and his race,
the grant which time should ne'er repeal!
See how thy servants treated are
with infamy reproach, and spite;
Which in my silent breast I bear
from nations of licentious might.
How they, reproaching thy great Name,
have made thy servant's hope their jest,
Yet thy just praises we'll proclaim,
and ever sing, "The Lord be blest."
Amen, Amen.
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marker 99
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LYRICS
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Meter:
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8 8 8 8 (L.M.)
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Writer(s):
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Trans/Adapted:
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Dates:
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1696
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Bible Refs:
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Ps 89:30-52;
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LIST OF LYRIC SOURCES
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Hymn/Song Book
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Year
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Song #
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| 1821 | # 89 |
echo ' | ';
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Hymn Writer
