The Cyber Hymnal ‎#8876

8876. The Spring, Great God, At Thy Command

1 The spring, great God, at Thy command,
Leads forth the smiling year;
Gay verdure, foliage, blooms and flowers,
T’adorn her reign, appear.

2 But soon canst Thou in righteous wrath
Blast all the promised joy,
The elements await Thy nod
To bless, or to destroy.

3 The sun, Thy minister of love,
That from the naked ground
Calls forth the hidden seeds to birth,
And spreads their beauties round;

4 But now, at God’s dread order sends
Destructive darts and fires;
Hills, plains, and vales are parched with drought,
And blooming life expires.

5 Like burnished brass, the heav’n around
In angry terror burns;
Our earth becomes a joyless waste,
And into iron turns.

6 O pity, Lord, in our distress,
Nor with our land contend;
Bid the avenging skies relent,
And showers of mercy send.

Text Information

• First Line: The spring, great God, at Thy command
• Title: The Spring, Great God, At Thy Command
• Author (attributed to): Thomas Gibbons
• Meter: CM
• Language: English
• Source: A Selection of Hymns from the Best Authors by John Rippon
• Copyright: Public Domain

Tune Information

• Name: BANGOR
• Composer: William Tans'ur (1734)
• Meter: CM
• Key: E♭ Major
• Copyright: Public Domain