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



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