Page:The poetical works of William Cowper (IA poeticalworksof00cowp).pdf/109

Rh whom was David taught
 * To aim the dreadful blow,
 * When he Goliath fought,
 * And laid the Gittite low?

Nor sword nor spear the stripling took, But chose a pebble from the brook.


 * 'Twas Israel's God and King
 * Who sent him to the fight;
 * Who gave him strength to sling,
 * And skill to aim aright.

Ye feeble saints, your strength endures, Because young David's God is yours.


 * Who ordered Gideon forth
 * To storm the invaders' camp,
 * With arms of little worth,
 * A pitcher and a lamp?

The trumpets made his coming known, And all the host was overthrown.


 * Oh! I have seen the day,
 * When with a single word,
 * God helping me to say,
 * "My trust is in the Lord,"

My soul hath quelled a thousand foes, Fearless of all that could oppose.


 * But unbelief, self-will,
 * Self-righteousness and pride,
 * How often do they steal
 * My weapon from my side?

Yet David's Lord, and Gideon's friend, Will help his servant to the end.

! whose blood so freely streamed
 * To satisfy the law's demand;

By thee from guilt and wrath redeemed,
 * Before the Father's face I stand.

To reconcile offending man,
 * Make Justice drop her angry rod;

What creature could have formed the plan,
 * Or who fulfil it but a God?

No drop remains of all the curse;
 * For wretches who deserved the whole;

No arrows dipped in wrath to pierce
 * The guilty, but returning soul.

Peace by such means so dearly bought,
 * What rebel could have hoped to see?

Peace, by his injured sovereign wrought,
 * His Sovereign fastened to a tree.

Now, Lord, thy feeble worm prepare!
 * For strife with earth and hell begins;

Confirm and gird me for the war;
 * They hate the soul that hates his sins.

Let them in horrid league agree!
 * They may assault, they may distress;

But cannot quench thy love to me,
 * Nor rob me of the Lord my peace.

" God had built the mountains,
 * Or raised the fruitful hills;

Before he filled the fountains
 * That feed the running rills;

In me, from everlasting,
 * The wonderful I AM ,

Found pleasures never wasting,
 * And is my name.

"When, like a tent to dwell in,
 * He spread the skies abroad,

And swathed about the swelling
 * Of ocean's mighty flood;

He wrought by weight and measure,
 * And I was with him then;

Myself the Father's pleasure,
 * And mine, the sons of men."

Thus Wisdom's words discover
 * Thy glory and thy grace,

Thou everlasting Lover
 * Of our unworthy race!

Thy gracious eye surveyed us
 * Ere stars were seen above;

In wisdom thou hast made us,
 * And died for us in love.

And couldst thou be delighted
 * With creatures such as we,

Who, when we saw thee, slighted,
 * And nailed thee to a tree?