As birds their infant brood protect, <br />And spread their wings to shelter them, <br />Thus saith the Lord to His elect, <br />'So will I guard Jerusalem.' <br /> <br />And what then is Jerusalem, <br />This darling object of His cares? <br />Where is its worth in God's esteem? <br />Who built it? who inhabits there? <br /> <br />Jehovah founded it in blood, <br />The blood of His incarnate Son; <br />There dwell the saints, once foes to God <br />The sinners whom He calls His own. <br /> <br />There, though besieged on every side, <br />Yet much beloved and guarded well, <br />From age to age they have defied <br />The utmost force of earth and hell. <br /> <br />Let earth repent, and hell despair, <br />This city has a sure defence; <br />Her name is call'd, 'The Lord is there,' <br />And who has power to drive him hence?<br /><br />William Cowper<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/olney-hymn-14-jehovah-shammah/
