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THIS WORLD IS ALL ENCHANTED GROUND

Scripture Verse

While he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the Lord being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city. And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed. Genesis 19:16–17

Introduction

Words: Ben­ja­min Bed­dome (1717–1795). Pub­lished post­hu­mous­ly in Hymns Adapt­ed to Pub­lic Wor­ship (Lon­don: Bur­ton & Briggs, 1818), num­ber 333.

Music: York. Me­lo­dy from the Scot­tish Psal­ter, 1615. Har­mo­ny by John Mil­ton, Sr. (1562–1647) (🔊 ).

If you know where to get a good pic­ture of Bed­dome (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els), would you send us an e-mail?

Lyrics

This world is all en­chant­ed ground,
O whi­ther shall I fly?
The venge­ful flames are kind­ling round,
And if I stop, I die.

When some kind hand has brought me forth,
How lin­ger­ing is my pace!
Lord, ei­ther drive me by Thy wrath,
Or draw me by Thy grace.

O let me not a mo­ment waste,
On this de­struct­ive plain;
Hence let me flee with great­er haste,
Till I the Zo­ar gain.

illustration
The Destruction of Sodom
Gustave Doré (1832–1883)