Say, Is This Wild, Corrupted Nation?

Say

is this wild

cor­rupt­ed na­tion

Blest with a few who seek the Lord?

Say

is there one in ev­ery sta­tion

Who loves t’obey Je­ho­vah’s word?

Are all agreed t’in­crease the sad­ness

Of such a dark and gloomy time?

Do all run on in head­strong mad­ness

And scorn re­pent­ance for the crime?

Is this

in­deed

our sad con­di­tion?

No: let me bless the God of grace!

There are a few who with con­tri­tion

Lament for sin be­fore His face.

Let me en­cour­age their con­fess­ion

Their strong en­trea­ties for this land!

Though ’tis a time of great trans­gress­ion

Yet

sure­ly

God is still at hand.

Ye hum­ble souls

pray with­out ceas­ing

To you the Lord will lend an ear;

While sins and judg­ments are in­creas­ing

O pray in faith and per­sev­ere.

O pray

nor be too much de­ject­ed

Ask all in Je­su’s wor­thy name!

Your suit shall nev­er be re­ject­ed

Through Him we may for­give­ness claim.

Come

sin­ners

join in each pe­ti­tion

Nor tempt the Lord by your de­lay:

He gives re­pent­ance and re­mis­sion

To all who do sin­cere­ly pray.

Let ev­ery soul in ev­ery sta­tion

Join their as­sist­ance—who can tell

But God may turn and bless this na­tion

And send con­ten­tion down to hell.