Scripture Verse

If I send pestilence among My people, if My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:13–14

Introduction

portrait
The Angel of Death
Jules Gabriel Levasseur (1823–1907), after Jules-Élie Delaunay (1828–1891)
Wikimedia Commons

Words: Ben­ja­min Bed­dome (1717–1795). Pub­lished post­hu­mous­ly in Hymns Adapt­ed to Pub­lic Wor­ship (Lon­don: Bu­rton & Briggs, 1818), num­ber 739, alt. Time of Ge­ner­al Sick­ness.

Music: Che­shire Es­te’s Psal­ter, 1592 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tunes:

If you know where to get a good pic­ture of Bed­dome (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

The Lord in judgment now appears,
And spreads His wrath abroad;
See sinners filled with guilty fears,
By righteous vengeance awed.

Seized by incurable disease,
What crowds of victims fall;
Unsparing death relentless preys,
Nor spares the great or small.

Lord, we our sin and guilt confess,
Yet mercy would implore:
To mitigate our sore distress,
Display Thy mighty power.

Say, ’Tis enough, and give command,
Disease shall then retire,
And rosy health revive our land,
Now trembling at Thine ire.

If this too great a favor seem,
Lord, bow our wills to Thine;
Thou still Thy chosen wilt redeem,
And give them life divine.