![Text Text](https://hymnary.org/sites/hymnary.org/themes/newhymn/icons/20x20/page-text.png)
Hymnal: 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.) #148 (1786) Scripture: Psalm 78 First Line: Great God, how oft did Israel prove Lyrics: 1 Great God, how oft did Israel prove
By turns thine anger, and thy love?
There is a glass our hearts may see
How fickle and how false they be.
2 How soon the faithless Jews forgot
The dreadful wonders God had wrought?
Then they provoke him to his face,
Nor fear his power, nor trust his grace.
3 The Lord consum'd their years in pain,
And made their travels long and vain;
A tedious march through unknown ways
Wore out their strength, and spent their days.
4 Oft when they saw their brethren slain,
They mourn'd, and sought the Lord again;
Call'd him the rock of their abode,
Their high Redeemer, and their God.
5 Their prayers and vows before him rise
As flattering words or solemn lies,
While their rebellious tempers prove
False to his covenant and his love.
6 Yet could his sovereign grace forgive
The men who not deserv'd to live;
His anger oft away he turn'd,
Or else with gentle flame it burn'd.
7 He saw their flesh was weak and frail,
He saw temptations still prevail;
The God of Abraham lov'd them still,
And led them to his holy hill. Topics: Backsliding pardoned; Children instructed; Education religious; Glutton; Israel rebellion and punishment; Luxury punished; Pardon of backsliding; Providence recorded; Religious Education; Saints punished and saved; Backsliding pardoned; Children instructed; Education religious; Glutton; Israel rebellion and punishment; Luxury punished; Pardon of backsliding; Providence recorded; Religious Education; Saints punished and saved Languages: English
Backsliding and Forgiveness; or, Sin punished and Saints saved