Scripture Verse

Teach me to do Thy will; for Thou art my God: Thy Spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness. Psalm 143:10

Introduction

Words: Charles Wes­ley, Hymns of In­ter­ces­sion for All Man­kind (Bris­tol, Eng­land: E. Far­ley, 1758), num­ber 18, alt.

Music: Bar­ragh John Che­tham, Book of Psal­mo­dy 1718 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tunes:

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

portrait
Charles Wesley (1707–1788)

Lyrics

Spirit of heav’nly counsel, come,
Our legislators teach Thy will;
To stay a sinking nation’s doom,
The wisdom from above reveal;
Nor let them join the impious crowd,
Nor let them scorn to fear their God.

The wisdom that departs from sin,
The gracious principle infuse,
To keep their hands and conscience clean,
To fit them for their Sav­ior’s use;
Now, Sav­ior, now to each impart
A single eye, and upright heart.

Now let the generous patriots rise,
The bur­den of our land to share,
With pleasure, luxury, and vice
To wage an ev­er­last­ing war,
Bold to defend religion’s cause,
And glo­ry in Thy slighted cross.

Their first concern, their foremost aim,
Thy kingdom to advance below,
While all united in Thy name
Their zeal for thy officials show,
Upon their hearts their country take,
And love, and save her for Thy sake.