Six centuries of select hymns and spiritual songs collected out of the Holy Bible together with a catechism, the canticles, and a catalogue of vertuous women / by William Barton.

HYMN 254. Grass-hoppers and Fire.

Amos 7.1.

WHEN God had formed Grass-hoppers, (as once it came to pass) And made them his Commissioners to eat up all the Grass. The time was at the latter growth of shooting out the blade, And I, to see the judgment loath, on this wise spake and said.

Forgive, Lord, our iniquities, I humbly cry and call: By whom shall Jacob's House arise, for he is very small? Then did the Lord repent for this, and thus He said to me, Though they have done so much amiss, yet this thing shall not be.

Then cald He to contend by fire, devouring all the deep, And eat a part though not th' entire, then did I pray and weep; Lord cease these wofull miseries, and hear my cry and call: By whom shall Jacob's House arise, for he is very small?

Then did the Lord repent for this, and thus he said to me, Though they have done so much amiss, yet this thing shall not be. Then shew'd he me a plummer line, pointing at Israel's score: To shew that God would not incline to pardon any more.

Lord spare thy flock, do not condemn, thine Heritage to shame; That Heathens should rule over them dishonouring thy Name▪ For wherefore should the Heathen say, (while we are undertrod) Now where is Israel's God (say they) where Now is Israel's God?

Then will the Lord of 's own accord be jealous for his Land, And pity his own flock that is under the Heathens hand. Let us always give laud and praise, to Israel's God therefore, And people then say all Amen, Amen, for evermore.