Doctor Watts's Imitation of the Psalms of David, corrected and enlarged, to which is added a collection of hymns; the whole applied to the state of the Christian Church in general (2nd ed.) ‎#205

205. Colonies planted; or, Nations blest and punished

1 When God, provok'd with daring crimes,
Scourges the madness of the times,
He turns their fields to barren sand,
And dries the rivers from the land.

2 His word can raise the springs again,
And make the wither'd mountains green,
Send showery blessings from the skies;
And harvests in the desert rise.

3 [Where nothing dwelt but beasts of prey,
Or men as fierce and wild as they,
He bids th' opprest and poor repair,
And builds them towns and cities there.

4 They sow the fields, and trees they plant,
Whose yearly fruit supplies their want;
Their race grows up from fruitful stocks,
Their wealth increases with their flocks.

5 Thus they are blest; but if they sin,
He lets the heathen nations in,
A savage crew invades their lands,
Their princes die by barbarous hands.

6 Their captive sons, expos'd to scorn,
Wander unpity'd and forlorn;
The country lies unfenc'd, untill'd,
And desolation spreads the field.

7 Yet if the humbled nation mourns,
Again his dreadful hand he turns:
Again he makes their cities thrive,
And bids the dying churches live.]

8 The righteous with a joyful sense
Admire the works of providence;
And tongues of atheists shall no more,
Blaspheme the God that saints adore.

9 How few with pious care record
These wondrous dealings of the Lord!
But wise observers still shall find
The Lord is holy, just and kind.

Text Information

• First Line: When God, provok'd with daring crimes
• Title: Colonies planted; or, Nations blest and punished
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1786
• Scripture:
  Psalm 107
• Topic: Afflictions: removed by prayer; Church: restored by prayer; Colonies Planted; Deliverance: from shipwreck; Drunkard and Glutton; Glutton and Drunkard: and Drunkard; Intemperance: and pardoned; Israel: saved from Egypt and brought to Canaan; Israel: punished and pardoned; Israel: travels in the wilderness; Luxury: pardoned; Mercies: recorded; Nation's: blest and punished; Providence: recorded; Providence: in air, earth, and sea; Psalm: for mariners; Psalm: for gluttons and drunkards; Saints: punished and pardoned; Seaman's Song; Weather
• Notes: Now Public Domain. Last Part

Tune Information

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