Give thanks to God, invoke his name, And tell the world his grace; Sound through the earth his deeds of fame, That all may seek his face. | His cov'nant, which he kept in mind For num'rous ages past, To num'rous ages yet behind In equal force shall last. | He sware to Abraham and his seed, And made the blessing sure; Gentiles the ancient promise read, And find his truth endure. | "Thy seed shall make all nations blest," (Said the Almighty voice,) "And Canaan's land shall be their rest, The type of heav'nly joys." | [How large the grant! how rich the grace, To give them Canaan's land, When they were strangers in the place, A little feeble band! | Like pilgrims through the countries round Securely they removed; And haughty kings that on them frowned Severely he reproved. | "Touch mine anointed, and my arm Shall soon revenge the wrong: The man that does my prophets harm, Shall know their God is strong." | Then let the world forbear its rage, Nor put the church in fear; Isr'el must live through every age, And be th' Almighty's care.] | When Pharaoh dared to vex the saints, And thus provoked their God, Moses was sent at their complaints, Armed with his dreadful rod. | He called for darkness; darkness came Like an o'erwhelming flood; He turned each lake and every stream To lakes and streams of blood. | He gave the sign, and noisome flies Through the whole country spread; And frogs in croaking armies rise About the monarch's bed. | Through fields, and towns, and palaces, The tenfold vengeance flew; Locusts in swarms devoured their trees, And hail their cattle slew. | Then by an angel's midnight stroke The flower of Egypt died; The strength of every house was broke, Their glory and their pride. | Now let the world forbear its rage, Nor put the church in fear; Isr'el must live through every age, And be th' Almighty's care. | Thus were the tribes from bondage brought, And left the hated ground; Each some Egyptian spoils had got, And not one feeble found. | The Lord himself chose out their way, And marked their journeys right; Gave them a leading cloud by day, A fiery guide by night. | They thirst, and waters from the rock In rich abundance flow; And following still the course they took, Ran all the desert through. | O wondrous stream! O blessed type Of ever-flowing grace! So Christ, our Rock, maintains our life Through all this wilderness. | Thus guarded by th' Almighty hand, The chosen tribes possessed Canaan, the rich, the promised land, And there enjoyed their rest. | Then let the world forbear its rage, The church renounce her fear; Isr'el must live through every age, And be th' Almighty's care. | |