1142    L.M.     John Newton
Confession and Prayer for Church and Nation

1 O may the power which melts the rock
  Be felt by all assembled here!
  Or else our service will but mock
  The God whom we profess to fear!

2 Lord, while thy judgments shake the land,
  Thy people’s eyes are fixed on thee;
  We own thy just uplifted hand,
  Which thousands cannot, will not, see.

3 How long hast thou bestowed thy care
  On this indulged, ungrateful spot!
  While other nations, far and near,
  Have envied and admired 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 heaven and earth have heard
  Our vile requital of his love;
  We, whom like children he has reared,
  Rebels against his goodness prove.

6 His grace despised, his power defied,
  And legions of the blackest crimes,
  Profaneness, riot, lust, and pride
  Are signs that mark the present times.

7 The Lord, displeased, has raised his rod;
  Ah! where are now the faithful few
  Who tremble for the Ark of God,
  And know what Israel ought to do?

8 Lord, hear thy people everywhere,
  Who meet to mourn, confess, and pray;
  The nation and thy churches spare,
  And let thy wrath be turned away.