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Hymnal: Hymns, Selected and Original #604 (1828) Meter: 8.6.8.6 Lyrics: 1 The spring, great God, at thy command,
Leads forth the smiling year;
Gay verdure, foliage, blooms and flowers
To adorn her reign, appear.
2 But soon canst thou in righteous wrath
Blast all the promis'd joy,
And 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 At the dread order of his God,
Now darts destructive fires;
Hills, plains, and vales, are parch'd with drought,
And blooming life expires.
5 Like burnish'd brass, the heaven around
In angry terror burns,
While the earth lies a joyless waste,
And into iron turns.
6 Pity us, Lord, in our distress,
Nor with our land contend;
Bid the avenging skies relent,
And showers of mercy send! Topics: Summer and Harvest; Threatening Drought
The spring, great God, at thy command