PSALM CV.

George Burgess

In God's great name, with heart and voices
Let all that seek him still rejoice:
Oh, seek, while life prolong the hour,
His sov'reign aid's redeeming pow'r.

Think on the wonders of his hand,
The mighty works of his command;
Let Abraham's seed his judgments trace,
Let Jacob's chosen tell his grace.

The Lord our God is Lord alone;
O'er all the earth his truth has shone:
He keeps his oath of old reveal'd,
His pledge to thousand ages seal'd;

To Abraham giv'n, to Isaac sworn,
In ceaseless faith by Israel borne;
\"In Canaan's fields shalt thou be heir,
And make thy peaceful dwelling there.\"

Yet few were they, a feeble band,
And strangers in their promis'd land;
From tribe to tribe content to roam,
Each distant realm awhile their home.

But all their way he guarded round,
And check'd the wrath of monarchs crown'd;
\"From mine anointed stay thine arm,
Nor do my holy prophets harm.\"

O'er all their fields a dearth he spoke;
The staff of strength'ning bread he broke;
But first a just deliv'rer gave,
The bondman Joseph, sold to save.

In chains he lay: his guiltless heart
Endur'd the iron's servile smart;
Till prov'd of God, his truth was known,
And justice spoke from Pharaoh's throne.

The lord of nations broke his chain;
The monarch gave him all his reign;
And chiefs were fetter'd at his will,
And sages listened, and were still.

Then Israel came, th' Egyptian's guest,
And Ham's fair plains were Jacob's rest:
God made his fruitful people strong
Beyond their tyrants' madd'ning throng.

His love enrag'd th' oppressor's heart;
They watch'd his tribes with murd'rous art:
Then Moses at his call arose,
Then Aaron, his pure priest, he chose.

Then Ham's dim land his wonders knew,
While darkness o'er their coasts he threw;
And when his word was still defied,
He roll'd in blood their peopled tide.

Teem'd all their land with slimy swarms,
Teem'd royal halls with loathsome forms:
He spake, and flies o'erspread their coasts,
And liv'd the dust in noisome hosts.

He gave them hail for dewy rains;
He swept with flame their fruitful plains;
The vine, the fig, his tempests tare,
And bow'd to earth their branches bare.

Th' unnumber'd worm and locust prey'd
Amidst their gardens' joyous shade;
And last, the sword of vengeance swept,
And Egypt o'er her firstborn wept.

With gold and silver, forth they came,
In all their tribes no feeble frame;
And glad th' Egyptian's fainting heart
Beheld their dreaded train depart.

God led their march : his cloud by day,
His fire by night, o'erhung the way:
They ask'd for bread; from heav'n it fell;
And deserts pour'd the rocky well.

Such wonders shone on mortal view;
So prov'd the Lord his promise true:
On Abraham, on his word, he thought,
And forth in joy his chosen brought.

He fix'd their home on Gentile soil;
They reaped the fields of heathen toil:
Oh, taught so well to love his ways,
And keep his word, give God the praise!