Wesley Corpus

Therefore the dire decree takes place, Abandon'd as to Satan's power, A desperate, death-devoted race: We see the slaughtring sword devour: Our legions pass beneath the yoke, Our nation is of God forsook. Yet if thou hast not fixt our doom, And sworn, in wrath, no more to spare, If still there is for mercy room, For hope, and penitence, and prayer, Us in our blood once more reprieve, And bid thy sentenc'd rebels live. Howe'er the righteous thou conceal, Or under, or above the skies, The wicked must thy justice feel; And never shall Britannia rise, Unless we to our smiter turn, And leave the sins for which we mourn. Hymn II. For the Loyal Americans. Father of everlasting love, The only refuge of despair, Thy bowels toward th' afflicted move; And now thou hear'st the mournful prayer We for our helpless brethren breathe, Who pant within the jaws of death. The men who dared their king revere, And faithful to their oaths abide, Midst perjur'd hypocrites sincere, Harrass'd, oppress'd on every side; Gaul'd by the tyrant's iron yoke, By Britain's faithless sons forsook. Page 5 Our patriot chiefs betray'd their trust, To serve their own infernal ends, The slaves of avarice and lust, Sparing their foes, they spoil'd their friends; Basely repaid their loyal zeal, And left them to the murtherer's3 will. As sheep appointed to be slain, The victims of fidelity To man they look for help in vain; But shall they look in vain to thee, God over all, who canst subdue The hearts which mercy never knew. Ev'n now thou canst disarm their rage, (If so thy gracious will intends) The wrath implacable asswage The malice of remorseless fiends: Mercy at last compell'd to show, And let the hopeless captives go. Yet if our brethren's doom be seal'd; And for superior joys design'd, They have their glorious course fulfill'd; To souls beneath the altar join'd, Their guiltless blood hath found a tongue, And every drop exclaims "How long?" O earth, conceal not thou their blood Which loud as Zechariah's cries! O God, thou just, avenging God, Behold them with thy flaming eyes, And blast, and utterly consume Those murtherers of fanatic Rome.