Scripture Verse

He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire. Psalm 46:9

Introduction

Words: Anne Steele, Po­ems on Sub­jects Chief­ly De­vo­tion­al 1760, page 38.

Music: Men­don Ger­man tune, ar­ranged by Sam­uel Dy­er, Sup­ple­ment of Sam­uel Dy­er’s Third Edi­tion of Sac­red Mu­sic, 1828 (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pic­ture of Steele (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

Great Ruler of the earth and skies,
A word of Thy al­migh­ty breath
Can sink the world, or bid it rise;
Thy smile is life, Thy frown is death.

When angry nations rush to arms,
And rage and noise, and tumult reign,
And war resounds its dire alarms,
And slaughter spreads the hostile plain;

Thy sovereign eye looks calmly down,
And marks their course, and bounds their power;
Thy word the angry nations own,
And noise and war are heard no more.

Then peace returns with balmy wing,
Sweet peace! with her what blessings fled!
Glad plenty laughs, the valleys sing,
Reviving commerce lifts her head.

Thou good, and wise, and righteous Lord,
All move subservient to Thy will;
And peace and war await Thy word,
And Thy sublime decrees fulfill.

To Thee we pay our grateful songs,
Thy kind protection still implore;
O may our hearts, and lives and tongues
Confess Thy goodness and adore.