Hymns for the National Fast (1782)1 Baker list, 424 Editorial Introduction: On October 19, 1781, the American and French forces successfully forced the surrender of General Cornwallis at Yorktown, in the Battle of the Chesapeake. While formal peace was still over a year away, this decisive victory marked the end of a major British land force in North America. As news of the defeat reached England, George III progressively lost control of Parliament. In an attempt to rally support, on January 20, 1782, George called for a public fast to be observed on February 8, to beseech God to bless the British land and sea forces in the ongoing battle with the colonies. Charles Wesley quickly pulled together this collection of fifteen hymns for the occasion. After appearing in its own right, this collection was appended to Hymns for the Nation (1781). This larger collection was then issued in an abridged form, omitting seven hymns that focused mainly on the rebellious Americans.2 Editions: Charles Wesley. Hymns for the National Fast, Feb. 8, 1782. London: Paramore, 1782. Hymns for the Nation in 1782, in Two Parts. London: Paramore 1782? . (incorporated as hymns 18-32) Hymns for the Nation in 1782. London: Paramore 1782?. (combined edition omitting hymns 2, 3, 8, 12, 16, 21 22) Last updated: Feb. 4, 2008. 2This abridgment was at the request of JW; see JW to John Atlay, Apr. 4, 1782. Table of Contents Hymn I Hymn II Hymn III Hymn IV. Habbakuk 1 Hymn V Hymn VI. Malachi 4:1 Hymn VII Hymn VIII Hymn IX Hymn X Hymn XI. Part the First Hymn XII. Part the Second Hymn XIII Hymn XIV. For Peace Hymn XV. Another Page 3 Hymn I. Let every prophet cry aloud, Lift up the voice, the trumpet blow, Shew their transgression to the crowd, The nation's sin to Britons show, That sin which marks the worst of times, Which heaven with most displeasure sees, Which fills the measure of our crimes, Profane, extreme UNGODLINESS! Thro' every rank and order spread: The poor and rich, the low and high, Alike disdain their God to dread, And him throughout their lives deny: His laws, thro' ignorance of him, His providence they dare disown, Neglect, despise, insult, blaspheme, And all defy the God unknown. Page 4

Their oaths have caus'd the land to mourn, The land to its foundations shook, And still the profligates foresworn Are blind to the impending stroke: His outstretch'd arm they will not see, His thunder's voice they will not hear, But mock at their calamity, And triumph in destruction near. God is not in their thoughts, or ways; As atheists in the world they live, A cursing, curst, abandon'd race, To Satan's will themselves they give, Daily devote themselves to hell; And when they in their sins expire, Convinc'd, alas, too late, they feel The real, true, eternal fire. The pit of bottomless despair Hath oped its mouth to take them in: Yet still our nation doth not bear The utmost penalty of sin: Some unknown friend before the throne To God the just for mercy prays, And will not let his wrath alone, To swallow up our impious race. A few at this tremendous hour, Whose faithful prayer doth heaven assail, One with their head, exert their power, And wrestling on with God prevail: Their prayer a longer space supplies, Their prayer hath power with God, we know, Who are not lifting up our eyes With fiends and infidels below. God of all grace and patience, hear The prayer presented thro' thy Son, Who doth our Advocate appear, Who made our every sin his own: Page 5 Justice and us he stands between; His blood hath quench'd the wrath of heaven, His blood which cleanses from all sin, And speaks a guilty world forgiven. Hymn II. God of tremendous power, Our evils we confess, And prostrate in the dust, adore Thy sov'reign righteousness, Which cuts our Israel short, Which lays our nation low, And gives us up the scorn and sport Of every taunting foe. Stricken so oft, we mourn, But fear to ask thy aid, By vile, intestine vipers torn, By faithless friends betray'd, By factions fierce and bold, Rebellion's sworn allies, Traitors, who have their country sold, And on its ruins rise. 'Gainst our anointed Lord The parricides conspire, With lies and calumnies abhorr'd Th' unthinking people fire, From all restraint set free, Fit instruments of ill, And mad with rage of liberty To do whate'er they will. Of sense thou dost bereave The slaves of every vice, And to our own confusions leave, And sin by sin chastise;

Page 6 While from one wickedness We to another fall, Till the dark, bottomless abyss Yawns, and receives us all. Alas, what shall we do, T' escape our instant doom? If thou art just, if thou art true, The threat'ned curse must come; On such a land as this Thy soul must vengeance take, Nor can thy plagues and judgments cease, Till we our sins forsake. O were the work begun, O were our hearts inclin'd The dire destroyer's paths to shun, The way of peace to find! Casting our sins away, Might all our nation grieve, To-day, while it is call'd to-day, Return, repent, and live! Father, if still we have An Advocate with thee, Who can ev'n to the utmost save From sin and misery, Let justice strike, or spare, We leave it to thy Son, And only offer up his prayer, Father, thy will be done! Hymn III. Thou awful God of righteousness, Whose heavy chastisements we bear, We mournfully our sins confess, Which would not suffer thee to spare, But urg'd the lingring ruin on, And forc'd thy heaviest judgments down. Page 7 Year after year, thy patient grace Hath waited our return to thee, With mercies bless'd a thankless race, With wide-extended victory, And forc'd the nations to submit, And bruis'd our foes beneath our feet. But drunk with insolence of power, And surfeited with every good, We thought not in our prosperous hour, How soon thou couldst abase the proud, The victors crush, the vanquish'd raise, And crown our en'mies with success. Therefore a sad reverse we find, So suddenly of late brought low, Scourg'd by the basest of mankind, Who aim'd by one destructive blow Our plunder'd cities to consume, And seal a sinful nation's doom. Therefore the sword abroad bereaves, And thousands and ten thousands fall; America the yoke receives Of rebels, and perfidious Gaul; We weep our friends in pieces torn, And the dismember'd empire mourn. Thou hast an evil spirit sent, Brethren from brethren to divide, Our land is into parties rent, And discord storms on every side, And Britain's sons, her curse and shame, Throw oil on the outrageous flame. Britain thou hast to traitors sold, To faction's and rebellion's friends, Who having quench'd their thirst of gold, And serv'd their own flagitious ends, For shelter to a party fly, And laws, and king, and God defy. Page 8

Wild, independent anarchy, Sad presage of a nation's fall, And every order and degree Corrupt, profane, for vengeance call, The noble and ignoble crowd, Whose lives declare There is no God. Yet hast thou, Lord, a remnant still, Who for their guilty brethren plead, And wait the counsels of thy will, Th' event by sov'reign love decreed, Whether thou wilt no longer spare, Or give us to thy people's prayer. Father of everlasting love, In Jesu's name and Spirit we cry, Thy judgments with their cause remove, Who wouldst not have one sinner die, Millions in Christ accepted see, And bid us live, restor'd, to thee. Hymn IV. Habbakuk i. How long, to thee, O God, shall I Of violence and oppression cry, And thou refuse to hear? Fresh scenes of wickedness I see, Of bloody strife and cruelty, But no deliverance near. Why dost thou to thy servants show Spoiling, and waste, and grievous woe, Which force me to complain: Tyrants and demagogues arise, Where'er I turn my blasted eyes, And fill my heart with pain. Page 9 The silent laws have lost their force, Where rebels arm'd obstruct their course, And grasp at sov'reign power, Their law their own despotic will, Their whole delight to slay and kill, To murther and devour. Suffer'd by thee, their swift allies, Whom treach'rous Babylon supplies, To their assistance haste, March thro' a land that is not theirs, Impatient to demand their shares, And seize the whole at last. As hungry wolves, they come from far, With violent rage to rend, and tear America opprest, As eagles to the carcase fly, And enemies and friends must die, To furnish out the feast. O Lord, my God, my holy one, High on thine everlasting throne, Whom Britain's crimes offend, Thou wilt not give our nation up To the destroyer's will, but hope And peace is in our end. More righteous than ourselves are they Who scourge us in our evil day? Or dost thou chuse the worst, Thy wrath vindictive to reveal, Thy lighter chastisements to deal, And punish us the first? Thy purer eyes abhor to see, Or look upon iniquity, Nor wilt thou always bear With treach'rous and blood thirsty men, Who have their juster brethren slain, And all thy judgments dare. Page 10

Fishers of men, by Satan sent, They hunt them thro' the continent, And catch them in their toils, As reptiles vile they tread them down, And then proclaim their own renown, And glory in their wiles. But soon their evil day shall come, And thou, the righteous God, consume The weapons of thine ire: Yet merciful when once severe, O let them have their chast'ning here, And 'scape th' eternal fire! Hymn V. Happy, for ever happy they, Taken from the evil day, Who will not live to see Their country wasted and o'erthrown, Or swell the sympathizing groan At Britain's misery. The great vindictive day's begun, God's destructive work we own, Which general horror spreads; His thunders roar, his lightnings shine, And vials big with wrath divine Are bursting on our heads. But while the showers of vengeance come, May not prayer prevent our doom, And save us from the fire? Have we no part in Abraham's God? Or is it not in Jesu's blood To quench thy flaming ire? With the flagitious multitude Wilt thou slay the just and good, Page 11 In whom thou dost delight, The men who tremble at thy word? Or shall not the great judge and Lord Of all the earth do right? Wouldst thou for fifty righteous men, Wouldst thou for the sake of ten Have spar'd the wicked place? And wilt thou not ten thousand hear, Who ceaseless advocates appear For our abandon'd race? Ten thousand now unite their cries Mingled with that sacrifice Which did for all atone; Thy church, in one request agreed, For mercy ask, and only plead The death of Abraham's Son. The Son of Abraham, and thine, Just with righteousness divine, Doth in his members pray: Our powerful Advocate and head, He ever lives to intercede, And turn thy wrath away. Thou always hear'st thy favourite Son: Make in him thy mercy known, That all again may see Britannia pluck'd out of the flame, And glorify our Saviour's name, For ever one with thee. Hymn VI. Malachi iv. 1. O Lord of hosts, to whom are known Thy works of judgment and of grace, If thy great day is now begun, And doth as a fierce furnace blaze, The sons of pride shall be cast in, And all the harden'd slaves of sin. Page 12

Expos'd to thy vindictive ire The workers of iniquity, As fewel for the quenchless fire, As stubble, all burnt up shall be, (So doth thy righteous will ordain) And neither root nor branch remain. But we who truly fear thy name, And languish to attain thy love, May we not now thy promise claim, The light to bless us from above, The Sun of righteousness to rise, The glory both of earth and skies. O Sun of righteousness, appear, Appear with healing in thy wings, With grace which doth the mourners chear, Which pardon and salvation brings; Which strong immortal health imparts, And fills with love the fearful hearts. Then shall we all go forth in peace, And up to full perfection grow, And strong in finish'd holiness Trample on our infernal foe, Till call'd the Saviour's throne to share, We mount, and reign for ever there! Hymn VII. Righteous, O Lord, thy judgments are, Yet let us plead with thee, Thy mercies manifold declare, To stop thy stern decree; Before the word bring forth the woe, And thy uplifted hand By sword and pestilence o'erthrow Our execrated land. If fully purpos'd to destroy Thou art in vengeance come, Why dost thou instruments employ To bring thy wand'rers home? Page 13 Why doth thy grace its work revive, Converting us from sin? And still we find thy Spirit strive Our worthless hearts to win. Thy messengers run to and fro, Believers are increas'd, And thousands their Redeemer know, With life eternal bless'd; Lost sheep for half a century Have flock'd into thy fold; And more are daily call'd by thee, And in thy book enroll'd. But didst thou, Lord, thy kingdom send, Thy kingdom to remove, To make of sinners a full end Excluded from thy love? Corrected, and chastis'd, we trust, Thou wilt not give us o'er, But spare the wicked for the just, And curse our land no more. Out of the deep thy call we wait To bid our nation rise, Aspiring to our first estate, And by affliction wise; That following after righteousness, We may thy grace retrieve, Repent, believe, and go in peace, And for thy glory live.

For this ten thousand faithful souls Are weeping round thy throne, And while thy angry thunder rolls, They in thy Spirit groan: We join the heaven-invading cry, And mercy, mercy claim, O let thy bowels, Lord, reply: We ask in Jesu's name! Page 14 Hymn VIII. How happy, Lord, are we Who have a part in thee! Following after righteousness, Hidden in thine anger's day, We enjoy an heart-felt peace, Peace which none can take away. When plagues the land o'erflow, We share the common woe: But our patriotic love Is not selfish, or confin'd, But our yearning bowels move Tow'rd the whole afflicted kind. With every sufferer We drop the generous tear, (Whom thy tendering Spirit leads) Pity no distinction knows, Love for all the wounded bleeds, Love embraces friends and foes. Yet tho' for all we feel, Our souls are happy still: Soft, compassionate distress On a wretched world bestow'd, Cannot violate our peace, Cannot shake our trust in God. With deepest sympathy, Saviour, we cry to thee: Listening to thy chosen race, Come, thou universal friend, Shorten these vindictive days, Bring the joy which ne'er shall end. Ev'n now with eagle's eye We see thee in the sky; Page 15 Soon with eagle's wings we soar, Our descending Lord to meet: Then the cup of bliss runs o'er, Then the rapture is compleat! Hymn IX. Who on the Lord most high With humbly fervent zeal, With loving faith rely, And in his presence dwell, In dangers safe and undismay'd, We rest beneath th' almighty shade. The ill we cannot fear, Which worldly souls alarms, Or shrink appal'd to hear Of nations up in arms, Assur'd, if empires are o'erthrown, The Lord is King, and reigns alone. His wise, permissive will In all events we see, Who orders good and ill T' accomplish his decree; Who kindly for his people cares, And counts, and keeps their precious hairs. O that the world might feel What none can comprehend, The joy unspeakable, The peace which ne'er shall end, The happiness his people prove, Who trust in their Redeemer's love! Then would their vain concern For earthly toys be o'er, The nations then would learn Pernicious war no more, Page 16 But bless the mild Immanuel's sway, And count it heav'n on earth t' obey.

Come, O thou common Lord, Thou universal King, In every soul restor'd Thy peaceful kingdom bring, The forces of the sea receive, And bid the heathen world believe. Hasten the promis'd hour Of monarchy divine, And exercise thy power Thro' endless ages thine, Again thine ancient Israel call, And change their hearts, and save them all. Not one of Adam's race Shall then unsav'd be found, But peace and righteousness Throughout the earth abound, The thrones shall to thy saints be given, And the new earth be turn'd to heaven. Hymn X. Can the disciples of our Lord With unconcern their country see Destroy'd by parricides abhorr'd, And not complain, O God, to thee? The little flock, the pious few, Whose number we aspire t' increase, When sinners reign, what can we do, But pray against their wickedness? Snatch'd from the flames by grace divine, We see the dire assassin-band Pursuing still their curst design, To spread confusion through the land, Page 17 In league with our inveterate foe, Indignant Britons to inthrall, And gainers by the public woe To triumph in their country's fall. The factious enemies to peace, The friends of Gaul, and tools of hell, They know, if wars and tumults cease, They must their due demerits feel; Their darkest works shall then appear, If laws revive and order reign And rulers, freed from servile fear, No longer bear the sword in vain. O might they, Lord, this moment rise, With courage firm inspir'd by thee, Nor suffer rebels to despise Their mild, irresolute lenity! Too mild, alas, for times like these, Which sterner discipline require, To stem the tide of wickedness, And pluck us from th' infernal fire. Strengthen their hands, Almighty Lord, Incline their hearts to seek thy face, That truth and righteousness restor'd May flourish as in ancient days, That all the pardoning God may know, Thy kingdom in their hearts receive, And serve thy blessed will below, And sav'd by grace for ever live! Hymn XI. Part the First. Lord of hosts, and God most high, Canst thou a nation bless, Who thy providence deny, And rob thee of thy praise, Page 18 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 Britons brave To the New World pass o'er, Never yet th' Atlantic wave So huge a burthen 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 th' 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. Sir William Howe Page 19 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, Tho' 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, prepar'd To execute their furious boasts, Then thy mighty arm is bar'd, 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 sav'd us now, And shalt for ever save! † Lord Cornwallis Page 20 Hymn XII. Part the Second.

Foolish world, thy vain reply Is to the faithful known, "If we must on God rely, And God doth all alone, Rust our arms, our useless bands And navies be dispers'd abroad, Let us idly fold our hands, And leave it all to God." God who doth appoint the end The proper means bestows, Wills us bravely to defend Our country from her foes: "Fight with Amalek," he cries, While Moses on the mountain prays, Brings assistance from the skies, And ascertains success. Still the battle is the Lord's, Who doth the vict'ry send: Bring forth all your spears and swords, Yet still on God depend: Courage, strength, and skill exert, Every nerve and sinew strain, Yet unless he takes your part Your utmost effort's vain. Did we in our evil day Low at thy footstool mourn, Cast our daring sins away, And to our smiter turn, Then thou wouldst for us appear, As a wall of brass surround, Put our vaunting foes in fear, And all their force confound. Did we, Lord, in every step Look up to thee for aid, Us thou wouldst in safety keep Beneath th' almighty shade; Page 21 While our weapons we employ, And in thine only name confide, None could hurt us, or annoy, With Jesus on our side. Britain thou again wouldst chuse, And call our nation thine, Teach us means, as means to use, And answer thy design, Wouldst our sins, not us, destroy, Us out of the dunghill raise, Turn our sorrow into joy, And nature into grace. Rise, the Lord of armies, rise In thy appointed hour, Scattering evil with thine eyes, And every adverse power: Then let earth and hell engage, Lodg'd in thine arms to pluck us thence, Raging against us, they rage Against omnipotence. Crush'd by thine almighty hand, Do thou our foes suppress, Then throughout the earth command Infernal wars to cease, Bid the ransom'd world be still And know that thou art God alone, Seated on thy holy hill, On thy millennial throne! Hymn XIII. Jesus, thy flaming eyes Full on the wicked dart, Who in rebellion's cause arise, And take the murtherer's part, Their bloody path pursue, A congress from beneath, A daring, dark, and desperate crew, In league with hell and death. Page 22

Possest of lawless power, Of absolute command, The beasts with iron teeth devour A sad distracted land: Traitors with Gaul combin'd Their cruel sway maintain, The scum and refuse of mankind As sovereign lords they reign. Their heart, O Lord, thou know'st Elated with success, Who triumph now, and make their boast Of prosperous wickedness, Who blasphemously claim Divine authority, As acting treasons in thy name, And countenanc'd by thee. How long, O God, how long Wilt thou their crimes pass by, And suffer their oppressive wrong Who all thy plagues defy? Blast the aspiring fiend, Avenge us of the foe, Confound his sworn allies, and end Their empire at a blow. So shall thy people sing The power that sets us free, The arm that doth deliverance bring From hellish tyranny; The same in heart and mind With loyal Britons prove, In strictest bonds fraternal join'd, In everlasting love. Then, when the work is done Which fiends in vain withstand, America and Britain, one In thy all-healing hand, The Lord's redeem'd shall come, And crown'd with joy arise To Sion's heights, their long-sought home, Their country in the skies! Page 23 Hymn XIV. For Peace. Come, thou choicest gift of heaven, Far from earth by sinners driven, While we for thy absence mourn, Lovely, lasting peace return. Forfeited by Britain's sin, Lost to us thou long hast been, Us for our iniquity, Punish'd with the want of thee. Never can we know thy way, While we from our Maker stray: But we now our sin deplore; Come, and never leave us more. Prince of Peace, and Israel's King, With thyself the blessing bring: Peace divine thy Spirit imparts; Plant thy kingdom in our hearts. Every stubborn spirit bow, Turn us, Lord, and turn us now, Thou who hear'st thy people's prayer, End this dire intestine war. Sprinkling us with thy own blood, Reconcile us first to God, Then let all the British race Kindly, cordially embrace. Concord, on a distant shore, To our countrymen restore, Every obstacle remove Melt our hatred into love. Gospel-grace to each extend, Every foe, and every friend, Then in thee we sweetly find Peace with God, and all mankind. Page 24 Hymn XV. Another For Peace.

With tender affection inspir'd, With pity for mountains of slain, My soul is of murtherers tir'd, And bitterly forc'd to complain; Heavy-laden, and weary of life, Whose sorrows and troubles increase, I pine for an end of the strife, I sigh for the blessing of peace. O peace, thou art banish'd and fled! The cause of our evils I see: By sin such a havock is made; By sin we have forfeited thee: No peace for the wicked there is, Unless we our wickedness mourn, No good for a nation like this, Unless to our God we return. O God, who art always the same, Whose nature is still to forgive, Permit us in Jesus's name To cry for a farther reprieve: Our sins let us fully confess, Our sins let us deeply deplore; And when from offending we cease, Thou wilt to thy favor restore. When once reconcil'd to our God, We shall with each other agree, Possest of the blessing bestow'd, And one with our Lord on the tree: His blood the alliance hath seal'd, The blessing his Spirit imparts, And peace with its author reveal'd Eternally reigns in our hearts!