Comfort derived from ancient providences. <br /> <br />"How awful is thy chast'ning rod!" <br />May thy own children say: <br />"The great, the wise, the dreadful God! <br />How holy is his way !" <br /> <br />I'll meditate his works of old, <br />The King that reigns above; <br />I'll hear his ancient wonders told, <br />And learn to trust his love. <br /> <br />Long did the house of Joseph lie <br />With Egypt's yoke oppressed; <br />Long he delayed to hear their cry, <br />or gave his people rest. <br /> <br />The sons of good old Jacob seemed <br />Abandoned to their foes; <br />But his almighty arm redeemed <br />The nation that he chose. <br /> <br />Isr'el, his people and his sheep, <br />Must follow where he calls; <br />He bade them venture through the deep, <br />And made the waves their walls. <br /> <br />The waters saw thee, mighty God! <br />The waters saw thee come; <br />Backward they fled, and frighted stood, <br />To make thine armies room. <br /> <br />Strange was thy journey through the sea <br />Thy footsteps, Lord, unknown; <br />Terrors attend the wondrous way <br />That brings thy mercies down. <br /> <br />[Thy voice, with terror in the sound, <br />Through clouds and darkness broke; <br />All heav'n in lightning shone around, <br />And earth with thunder shook. <br /> <br />Thine arrows through the skies were hurled; <br />How glorious is the Lord! <br />Surprise and trembling seized the world, <br />And his own saints adored. <br /> <br />He gave them water from the rock, <br />And safe, by Moses' hand, <br />Through a dry desert led his flock <br />Home to the promised land.]<br /><br />Isaac Watts<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/psalm-77-part-2/
