Long Has Divine Compassion Strove

Long has di­vine com­pass­ion strove

With this re­bel­lious land;

O jus­tice

long has plead­ing love

Withheld thy dread­ful hand.

At lengths

ye peo­ple

lift your eyes

Your crimes no more pur­sue;

Behold the ga­ther­ing tem­pest rise

And trem­ble at the view!

See

fraught with ven­geance

how it spreads!

To mer­cy in­stant fly;

E’er yet it burst up­on your heads

Repent

re­pent—or die.

Late rag­ing storm

’twas mer­cy stayed

Her voice de­struct­ion heard

Th’impetuous winds her voice ob­eyed

And aw­ful jus­tice spared.

Shall ev­ery warn­ing be in vain

Your ru­in to pre­vent?

Indulgent mer­cy calls again

Return

re­pent! re­pent!

The voice

ye peo­ple

hear with awe

O hear

and turn to God;

Lest mer­cy

long ab­used

with­draw

And leave you to the rod.

Almighty God

Thy pow­er­ful grace

Can change us

and for­give;

Can save a guil­ty re­bel race

And say

Re­pent

and live.

O let Thy pow­er­ful grace ap­pear

And jus­tice sheath her sword;

Then shall a res­cued na­tion fear

And love and praise the Lord.