THIRTEEN HYMNS,

SUITED TO THE PRESENT TIMES:

CONTAINING

The past, present, and future STATE of AMERICA;

with ADVICE to SOLDIERS and CHRISTIANS.

DEDICATED to the Inhabitants of the UNITED

COLONIES.

By ELHANAN WINCHESTER.

Save now I beseech thee, O Lord. O Lord I

beseech thee send now Prosperity.---Psalm cxviii.

xxv.

THE SECOND EDITION.

BALTIMORE:

PRINTED by M. K. GODDARD, in Market-

Street, M,DCC,LXXVI.

[facsimile of title page]

HYMN I.

AMERICA'S Settlement, and present DISTRESS.

1. WHEN Britain, mov'd, by furious Rome,
The Saints did persecute and slay.
Jehovah did reveal a home,
A safe retreat,---AMERICA.

2. Great was his goodness, to provide
This charming land, a field of joy.
Where the distressed Saints might hide,
Secure from enemies annoy.

3. Hither our fathers, drove by force,
Came to enjoy their freedom here;
Thro' tractless paths pursu'd their course,
And o'er the wat'ry deep did steer.

4. Here we were planted by the hand
Of God most high who gave us might;
We trusted to enjoy our land,
With ev'ry natural civil right.

5. But Britons now are senseless grown,
And most forgetful of their good;
They seek to raise old Slav'ry's throne,
On hills of slain, and fields of blood.

6. Why will they plot our ruin here?
Alas! what rage is in their brain?
Will they destroy their brethren dear?
And must their choicest friends by slain!

7. How can they stand, if we shou'd fall?
If slav'ry reigns, they are undone!
Thralldom forever ruins all,
Where tyrants rule beneath the sun.

8. Lord, let thy pow'r and grace be known,
From ruin save this bleeding land;
Send us deliv'rance from thy throne,
And then securely we shall stand.

HYMN II.

America's Soliloquy.

LONG peace, and plenty, we had known,
The sun of freedom, kindly shone
On this our happy land;
So we did hope to live and die,
Beneath a fair unclouded sky.
Upon the western strand.

2. This wilderness we chose our seat,
And here we found a safe retreat,
A rich and fruitful ground;
Secur'd by rights, and nature's laws,
From persecution's iron claws,
With choicest blessing crown'd.

3. Fair Freedom, drove from post to post.
Arriv'd at length on this our coast,
And landed on the shore;
She hop'd to fix her standard here,
And reign for ever free from fear.
And be oppress'd no more.

4. But, oh! alas! the mournful thought,
That freedom's reign shou'd be forgot,
And slav'ry take the throne;
It fills our souls with grief and woe!
We pray that we may never know,
What other lands have known.

5. Ah, must we bear the heavy yoke?
Or, fall beneath oppression's stroke?
And tyranny endure?
Must liberty be driv'n from hence?
And must we lose that firm defence,
Which keeps our all secure.

6. Oh Heav'n forbid! let freedom stand,
And be the bulwark of our land;
Lord put our foes to shame,
Shine, Saviour, on America,
And turn our darkness into day,
And we'll adore thy name.

HYMN III.

Advice to American Christians.

AWAKE ye saints, awake,
In this surprizing day!
And to your chambers now betake,
To seek your God, and pray.

2. "Tis now a mournful hour,
The country's in distress;
Our foes engage with all their pow'r.
Our freedom to suppress.

3. Oh! can you hold your peace,
In this sad time of woe?
While Rome and Hell, without surcease,
Do plot our overthrow.

4. 'Tis now no time to sleep,
The foes are marching on;
Unless our God doth grant relief,
Alas! we are undone!

5. Arise, and cry to God,
For succour, and success;
And wait upon the court of Heav'n,
For quick and sure redress.

6. Vain is the help of man,
Kings no relief afford;
If ever we should help obtain,
Twill come from Christ, our Lord.

7. On him our souls depend,
And by his grace we stand;
He is our greatest, surest friend,
And pow'rful is his hand.

8. Lord help us in distress,
And grant us Liberty;
So we thy name will ever bless,
And sing and shout to thee.

HYMN IV.

America's Desires.

LET slav'ry's hand, attempt no more
To ruin dear America;
And banish freedom from our shore,
And take our liberties away.

2. This plan of tyranny we hate,
'Tis fraught with ev'ry murd'rous ill;
It ruins ev'ry happy state,
Where it obtains its hateful will.

3. Lord save our land from tyrant's rage,
Let not our foes obtain their joy;
Behold, O Lord, how they engage
Our dearest rights for to destroy.

4. We're free, by nature's rightful laws,
And may we never wear the chain;
Freedom from slav'ry's iron claws,
Is what we pray may still remain.

5. The gospel sets our spirits free,
And in that freedom may we stand;
And may we never, never see
Oppression flourish in our land.

6. Save us from ev'ry Popish plot.
And blast our foes in their design;
And this shall never be forgot,
But all the glory shall be thine.

7. Oh! may we never be enslav'd,
And lose our darling Liberty!
And may America be sav'd,
From bondage, thrall, and tyranny.

HYMN V.

America's Encouragement.

LET tyrants shake their iron rod,
And slav'ry clank her galling chains;
We fear them not, we trust in God,
Our God alone for ever reigns.

2. Though Britons join with Rome and Hell,
And seek our freedom to annoy;
Yet God, who doth in Zion dwell,
Can all their boasted pow'r destroy.

3. What though their vessels fraught with fire;
Come to distress our peaceful coasts;
The Lord can send his wrathful ire,
And link their ships, and stay their hosts.

4. Let all their pow'rs together join,
To fight and slay with sword in hand;
Supported by an arm divine,
In spite of all their rage, we stand.

5. Seas, winds, and storms, earth, stars and skies,
Directed by God's wisdom, fight;
All join against his enemies,
Who dare to triumph in his sight.

6. Who dares the great Supreme oppose?
His weighty vengeance, who can tell?
His wrath will crush his stubborn foes,
His fury send them down to Hell.

7. Let not the mighty triumph them,
And rise in arms against our God;
He'll make them know they are but men,
If they provoke his dreadful rod.

8. Should God the dreadful judge appear,
Array'd in all his bright attire;
His foes would shrink, with panic fear,
And at his awful frown expire.

9. We'll trust in him; whose pow'r alone,
Can save us from the hurtful sword;
He'll send deliv'rance from his throne,
And we shall know he is our Lord.

HYMN VI.

Advice to American Soldiers.

BRAVE soldiers attend,
To what I shall say,
Your succour now lend,
And make no delay;
Your foes are engaging,
Your blood for to spill,
And raving, and raging,
And seeking your ill.

2. COME boldly unite,
Americans all,
Your foes you must fight,
Or freedom must fall;
Your cause is most glorious,
Then trust in the Lord,
He'll make you victorious,
And give you reward.

3. American bands,
Come fight for your lives,
Your houses and lands,
Dear children, and wives;
Your rights, and your freedom,
And friends, are at stake,
And as you will need them,
Come fight for their sake.

4. You cannot deny,
That we are oppress,
And shall we thus die,
And never seek rest?
We'll use our endeavours,
To join from this hour,
Nor be the receivers,
Of tyranny's pow'r.

5. Come let us then fight,
The cause it is good,
For freedom's our right,
And for it we've stood;
Through God we shall conquer
America's foes,
Our captain is stronger
Than all who oppose.

6. We'll fear not the rage
Of Briton, Nor Hell,
For God doth engage
n Zion to dwell;
He'll save us from strangers,
And keep us from harms,
And shield us from dangers,
And slav'ry's arms.

7. We'll trust in the name
Of Jesus our King,
He'll save us from shame,
And safety will bring;
The Lord will deliver
His people opprest,
For he is the giver
Of freedom, and rest.

HYMN VII.

America comforted by the Destruction of HAMAN.

WHEN self-will'd Haman, proud, of old,
Exalted was in pow'r;
In wickedness he soon grew bold,
God's people to devour.

2. All people bow'd to Haman then,
So did the king command;
His honour rose above all men,
That is the gate did stand.

3. Alone did Mordecai refuse
To honor Haman vain;
Then scornful Haman said, the Jews
For this should all be slain.

4. Then, by the favour of the great,
The monster laid a plot;
To slay the Jews, whom he did hate,
And cause their names to rot.

5. The plan he form'd did not succeed,
For God was on their side;
Destruction follow'd him with speed,
For his malicious pride.

6. The tree for Mordecai uprear'd,
Was Haman's doom at last;
The Jewish-nation then was spar'd
While all their foes was cast.

7. See how God's vengence overtakes
His churches enemies;
And in the darkest time he makes
Deliv'rance to arise.

8. Oh! may we trust in God, our King,
Who can our foes destroy;
And make our land his praise to sing,
With wonder, love, and joy.

HYMN VIII.

The Happiness of a free Government.

BEHOLD with joy the peaceful state
Of people, where Jehevah reigns;
Whose wisdom, pow'r, and goodness great,
Their glorious freedom still maintains.

2. Happy the land, whose rulers are
Chose by the people's voice alone;
For such will take a special care
To save a country of their own.

3. Those men who govern by the pow'r
With which the people them invest;
Can ne'er their dearest friends devour,
And hence such government is best.

4. Hail happy place where freedom stands,
And Liberty erects its throne;
Where fraud, and cruel slav'ry's bands,
And tyranny are never known.

5. Where peace, and love, and freedom rule,
And persecution cannot come;
And where a ministerial tool
Hath neither pow'r, nor place, nor home.

6. Where none each other's peace annoys,
Where conscience never is oppress'd;
Where each free liberty enjoys,
This is the land which God hath bless'd.

7. In this free state we would rejoice,
And dwell forever more in peace;
And praise our God with chearful voice,
Who makes our thrall and bondage cease.

HYMN IX.

America's future Glory and Happiness.

COME rise my soul to noble things,
And trace our future state;
And joyful stretch thy fancy's wings,
And look for glory great.

2. Behold our western world emerge,
And far outshine the moon;
No longer sunk, it will enlarge,
And rise in glory soon.

3. See the bright morn of light appear,
As day breaks from the skies;
Our woes are gone, and ev'ry tear
Is banish'd from our eyes.

4. Fair Liberty exalts her plumes,
And Freedom takes the throne;
Justice, the seat of pow'r assumes,
And thrall no more is known.

5. Truth lifts its standard in the field,
And righteousness doth spring;
Ten thousand souls to Jesus yield,
And own him for their King.

6. Religion rises, with its charms,
And scatters glories round;
Vast numbers flock to mercy's arms,
Where pardons may be found.

7. Religion tyranny no more,
The land with bondage fills;
But freedom sounds from shore to shore,
And echo's from the hills.

8. The warlike sounds of battle cease,
And swords no more destroy;
The glorious Olive branch of peace,
Fills ev'ry heart with joy.

9. The fields, where human blood was shed,
Are cloth'd with growing corn;
And pleasant green, instead of red,
Doth hills and plains adorn.

10. The desert wild becomes a field,
And blossoms, like a rose;
The barren land doth plenty yield,
And living water flows.

11. No more the labour'r pines, and grieves,
For want of plenty round;
His eyes behold the fruitful sheaves,
Which makes his joys abound.

12. No more Christ's ministers complain,
And mourn with weeping eyes;
No longer spend their strength in vain,
For num'rous converts rise.

13. See flocking souls on Jesus wait,
And run to hear his word;
Behold them stand before his gate,
And own him for their Lord.

14. Christ's watchmen now see eye, to eye,
And saints join, heart and hand;
Free grace, free grace, is all the cry
Throughout this happy land.

15. This is the glory of our main;
And thus America
Will flourish, under Jesus's reign;
Amen, amen, I say.

[Editor's note: this poem, with slight differences appears
as Hymn IX in "Some Political Hymns for America."]

HYMN X.

The important War.

THERE is a war proclaim'd above,
Against the Prince of Hell, below;
Who sinn'd against the God of love,
And seeks his cause to overthrow.

2. In this great war, none neuters are,
All run, all wrestle, strive, and fight;
Some war with sin, and some will dare,
Wage war against the Prince of Light.

3. Great Beelzebub, the Prince of Hell,
With all his legions at command;
Who from their first obedience fell,
Rise up against Jehovah's hand.

4. The great Messiah, now doth draw
His sword, against each rebel's heart;
Resolves to vindicate his law;
And give to traitors their deser.

5. God is a match, who dares engage?
Yet men, presumptuous mortals, dare
Rise up, with spite, and hellish rage,
And tempt him to the dreadful war.

6. Those fools who do with Satin join,
And dare the great Supreme to rise;
Shall feel his pow'r and wrath divine,
Which shall their guilty souls surprize.

7. But those who throw their weapons down,
And love the blessed Saviour's reign,
Shall be forgiv'n, and have a crown,
While foes and rebels shall be slain.

HYMN XI.

A Call to the Spiritual Warfare.

BEHOLD the warlike trumpets blow.
When foes in arms appear;
To let the sone of freedom know,
the day of battle's near.

2. Christ's trumpet sounds, let Saints be arm'd.
The battle is begun;
The hosts of Satan are alarm'd,
The day will soon be won.

3. The glorious captain, Jesus, sends
The heralds of his might;
To search and try, who are his friends,
And who will lift to fight.

4. The gospel cal's for volunteers,
They come, with heart and hand;
Where is there one for Christ appears,
Against the foe to stand?

5. There's bounty money shall be giv'n,
To all his soldiers here;
And glorious crowns, and joys of Heav'n,
When Jesus shall appear.

6. Here's dress, and food, and drink, and arms,
And pay, and vict'ry's sure;
This ev'ry christian soldier charms,
And makes him war endure.

7. The captain never quits the field,
But fights before his men;
Until his foes are made to yield,
Or fall among the slain.

HYMN XII.

The Christians excited to obedience,
by beholding a well displined Army.

COME all ye christians view,
These soldiers in array;
Stand and behold whate'er they do,
And thus like them obey.

2. They all in order stand,
And watch their leader's eye;
Observe the words of his command,
To make their motions by.

3. Their dress is neat, and clean,
Their armour fit for war;
In rank and file, they all are seen,
Without one striving jar.

4. They're uniform throughout,
This is their greatest care;
They march, they halt, they face about,
Just as their orders are.

5. They learn to understand
The use of all arms;
They are together in a band,
And ready for alarms.

6. And when they're call'd to fight,
Against the common foe;
They all with heart, and hand unite,
And chearfully they go.

7. And when they're in the field,
They fight with courage bold;
Their swords, and spears they nobly wield,
Their foes is clay they hold.

8. And when the Battle's o'er,
The victory they proclaim;
And when they are call'd to try it more,
They're ready for the same.

9. Go saints obey your King,
And fight against your foes,
So you at last, shall victory sing,
When time and war, shall close.

HYMN XIII.

The LORD Displays his Power when most needed.

THE Lord of Hosts display's his pow'r
When most his people need his aid;
Tho' men are seeking to devour
Yet Saints should never be afraid.

2. Tho' tyrants rage, and make their boasts,
What they have done, and still can do,
The Lord of all, the God of Hosts,
Can save his people by a few.

3. Let pow'rs of earth, and pow'rs of hell,
Against the Church of God conspire.
JEHOVAH loves his chosen well,
And doth with zest his Saints inspire.

4. The see blest hands who trust in God,
Against their foes shall soon prevail;
They need not fear the wicked's rod,
For all their boasted power shall fail.

5. The Lord can make the weakest strong.
And give them victory o'er their fears;
And make them sing a chearful song,
To GOD, who for their help appears.

6. Trust in the name of God alone,
Our foes shall fall beneath our feet;
We soon shall sing, the day's our own,
And see the victory all compleat.