Scripture Verse

We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, what work Thou didst in their days, in the times of old. Psalm 44:1

Introduction

portrait
Isaac Watts (1674–1748)

Words: Is­aac Watts, The Psalms of Da­vid 1719. The church’s com­plaint in per­se­cu­tion.

Music: Ar­ling­ton Tho­mas A. Arne, 1762. Ar­ranged by Ralph Har­ris­on, 1784 (🔊 pdf nwc).

portrait
Thomas A. Arne (1710–1778)

Lyrics

Lord, we have heard Thy works of old,
Thy works of power and grace,
When to our ears our fathers told
The wonders of their days.

How Thou didst build Thy churches here,
And make Thy Gos­pel known;
Amongst them did Thine arm ap­pear,
Thy light and glo­ry shone.

In God they boasted all the day,
And in a cheerful throng
Did thousands meet to praise and pray,
And grace was all their song.

But now our souls are seized with shame,
Confusion fills our face,
To hear the enemy blaspheme,
And fools reproach Thy grace.

Yet we have not forgot our God,
Nor falsely dealt with Heav’n,
Nor have our steps declined the road
Of duty Thou hast giv’n.

Though dragons all around us roar
With their destructive breath,
And Thine own hand has bruised us sore
Hard by the gates of death.

We are exposed all day to die
As martyrs for Thy cause,
As sheep for slaughter bound we lie
By sharp and bloody laws.

Awake, arise, Almighty Lord,
Why sleeps Thy wonted grace?
Why should we look like men ab­horred
Or banished from Thy face?

Wilt Thou for ever cast us off
And still neglect our cries?
For ever hide Thine heav’nly love
From our afflicted eyes?

Down to the dust our soul is bowed,
And dies upon the ground;
Rise for our help, rebuke the proud,
And all their powers confound.

Redeem us from perpetual shame,
Our Sav­ior and our God;
We plead the honors of Thy name,
The merits of Thy blood.