4 In the hour of dark temptation
Satan cannot make me yield;
For the word of consolation
Is to me a mighty SHIELD:

While the Scripture-truths are sure,
From his malice I'm secure.

5 Vain his threats to overcome me,

When I take the Spirit's SwORD:

Then with ease I drive him from me;
Satan trembles at the word:

'Tis a sword for conquest made,-
Keen the edge, and strong the blade.

6 Shall I envy, then, the miser,
Doating on his golden store?
Sure I am or should be wiser,-
I am rich, 'tis he is poor:

Jesus gives me, in his word,

FOOD and MED'CINE, SHIELD and SWORD.

III. PROVIDENCES.

LXIV.-On the Commencement of Hostilities in
America.

1 THE gath'ring clouds, with aspect dark,
A rising storm presage;
Oh! to be hid within the ark,
And shelter'd from its rage!

2 See the commission'd angel frown* !
That vial in his hand,

Fill'd with fierce wrath, is pouring down
Upon our guilty land!

3 Ye saints, unite in wrestling pray'r,
If yet there may be hope;

Who knows but mercy yet may spare,
And bid the angel stop +?

* Rev. xvi. 1.

+ 2 Sam. xxiv. 16.

4 Already is the plague begun
And, fir'd with hostile rage,

Brethren, by blood and int'rest one,
With brethren now engage.

5 Peace spreads her wings, prepar'd for flight,
And War, with flaming sword

And hasty strides, draws nigh, to fight
The battles of the Lord.

6 The first alarm, alas! how few,
While distant, seem to hear!
But they will hear and tremble too,
When God shall send it near.

7 So thunder o'er the distant hills
Gives but a murm❜ring sound;
But, as the tempest spreads, it fills,
And shakes the welkin † round.

8 May we, at least, with one consent
Fall low before the throne;

With tears the nation's sins lament,
The church's and our own.

9 The humble souls who mourn and pray,
The Lord approves and knows :

His mark secures them in the day,
When vengeance strikes his foes.

FAST-DAY HYMNS.

LXV.-Confession and Prayer. Dec. 13, 1776.

1 OH! may the pow'r which melts the rock
Be felt by all assembled here!

Or else our service will but mock
The God whom we profess to fear!

* Numb. xvi. 46.

+ Firmament or atmosphere..

2 Lord, while thy judgments shake the land,
Thy people's eyes are fix'd on thee!
We own thy just uplifted hand,

Which thousands cannot, will not, see..
3 How long hast thou bestow'd thy care
On this indulg'd, ungrateful spot;
While other nations, far and near,
Have envy'd and admir'd our lot.
4 Here peace and liberty have dwelt,
The glorious Gospel brightly shone;
And oft our enemies have felt

That God has made our cause his own.
5 But, ah! both heav'n and earth have heard
Our vile requital of his love!
We, whom like children he has rear'd,
Rebels against his goodness prove *.
6 His grace despis'd, his pow'r defy'd
And legions of the blackest crimes,
Profaneness, riot, lust, and pride,
Are signs that mark the present times.
7 The Lord, displeas'd, has rais'd his rod;
Ah, where are now the faithful few

Who tremble for the ark of God,

And know what Israel ought to dot?

8 Lord, hear thy people ev'ry where

Who meet to mourn, confess, and pray;

The nation and thy churches spare,

And let thy wrath be turn'd away.

LXVI.-Moses and Amalek‡. Feb. 27, 1778.

1 WHILE Joshua led the armed bands

Of Israel forth to war,

Moses apart, with lifted hands,
Engag'd in humble pray'r.

* Isa. i. 2.

+ 1 Chron. xii. 32.

+ Exod. xvii. 9.

2 The armed bands had quickly fail'd,
And perish'd in the fight,

If Moses' pray'r had not prevail'd
To put the foes to flight.

3 When Moses' hands through faintness dropp'd,
The warriors fainted too;

Israel's success at once was stopp'd,

And Am'lek bolder grew.

4 A people, always prone to boast,
Were taught by this suspense,
That not a numerous armed host,
But God, was their defence.

5 We now of fleets and armies vaunt,
And ships and men prepare :
But men like Moses most we want,
To save the state by pray❜r.

6 Yet, Lord, we hope thou hast prepar'd
A hidden few to-day,

(The nation's secret strength and guard,) To weep, and mourn, and pray.

7 O! hear their pray'rs, and grant us aid,
Bid war and discord cease;

Heal the sad breach which sin has made,
And bless us all with peace.

LXVII. The Hiding-place. Feb. 10, 1779.

I SEE the gloomy gath'ring cloud
Hanging o'er a sinfnl land!
Sure the Lord proclaims aloud
Times of trouble are at hand:
Happy they who love his name!

They shall always find him near;

Though the earth were wrapp'd in flame,
They have no just cause for fear.

2 Hark, his voice, in accents mild,
(Oh, how comforting and sweet!)
Speaks to ev'ry humble child,
Pointing out a sure retreat!
'Come, and in my chambers hide*
To my saints of old well known;
There you safely may abide

Till the storm be overblown.

3 You have only to repose

On my wisdom, love and care;
When my wrath consumes my foes,
Mercy shall my children spare:
While they perish in the flood,
You that bear my holy mark+,
Sprinkled with atoning blood,
Shall be safe within the ark.'

4 Sinners, see the ark prepar'd!

Haste to enter while there's rooni;
Though the Lord his arm has bar'd,
Mercy still retards your doom:
Seek him while there yet is hope,
Ere the day of grace be past,
Lest in wrath he give you up,

And this call should prove your last.

LXVIII.-On the Earthquake, Sept. 8, 1775.

1 ALTHOUGH on massy pillars built,
The earth has lately shook;

It trembles under Britain's guilt,
Before its Maker's look.

2 Swift as the shock amazement spreads,
And sinners tremble too;

What flight can screen their guilty heads,
If earth itself pursue?