O God, whose former mercies make

Verse 1

O God, whose former mercies make My constant praise thy due, Hold not thy peace, but my sad state with wonted favours view.

Verse 2

For sinful men, with lying lips, Deceitful speeches frame, And with their study'd slanders seek To wound my spotless fame.

Verse 3

Their restless hatred prompts them still Malicious lies to spread: And all against my life combine, By causeless fury led.

Verse 4

Those whom with tend'rest love I us'd, My chief opposers are; Whilst I, of other friends bereft, resort to thee by pray'r.

Verse 5

Since mischief for the good I did, Their strange reward does prove; And hatred's the return they make for undissembled love:

Verse 6

Their guilty leader shall be made To some ill man a slave; And when he's try'd, his mortal foe for his accuser have.

Verse 7

His guilt, when sentence is pronounc'd, Shall meet a dreadful fate; Whilst his rejected pray'r but serves His crimes to aggravate.

Verse 8

He, stung with deep remorse, an end Of his own life shall make; Another, by divine decree, Shall his high office take.

Verse 9

His seed shall orphans be, his wife ! Widow plung'd in grief; His vagrant children beg their bread, Where none can give relief.

Verse 10

His ill-got riches shall be made, To usurers a prey; The fruit of all his toil shall be By strangers born away.

Verse 11

None shall be found that to his wants Their mercy will extend, Or to his helpless orphan-seed The least assistance lend.

Verse 12

A swift destruction soon shall seize On his unhappy race; And the next age his hated name Shall utterly deface.

Verse 13

God of my mercy and my praise, Thy glory is my song; Tho' sinners speak against thy grace With a blaspheming tongue.

Verse 14

When in the form of mortal man Thy Son on earth was found; With cruel slanders false and vain, They compass'd him around.

Verse 15

Their mis'ries his compassion move, Their peace he still pursu'd; They render hatred for his love, And evil for his good.

Verse 16

Their malice rag'd without a cause, Yet with his dying breath He pray'd for murd'rers on his cross, And blest his foes in death.

Verse 17

Lord shall thy bright example shine In vain before my eyes; Give me a soul a-kin to thine, To love mine enemies.

Verse 18

The Lord shall on my side engage, And in my Saviour's name I shall defeat their pride and rage, Who slander and condemn.