Prayer for a Revival

I

Saviour, visit thy plantation,
Grant us, Lord, a gracious rain!
All will come to desolation
Unless thou return again:
Keep no longer at a distance,
Shine upon us from on high,
Lest, for want of thine assistance,
Every plant should droop and die.

II

Surely once thy garden flourish’d,
Every part look’d gay and green;
Then thy word our spirits nourish’d,
Happy seasons we have seen!
But a drought has since succeeded,
And a sad decline we see;
Lord thy help is greatly needed,
Help can only come from thee.

III

Where are those We counted leaders,
Fill’d with zeal and love and truth?
Old professors, tall as cedars,
Bright examples to our youth?
Some, in whom we once delighted,
We shall meet no more below;
Some, alas! we fear are blighted⁠—
Scarce a single leaf they show.

IV

Younger plants⁠—the sight how pleasant⁠—
Cover’d thick with blossoms stood;
But they cause us grief at present⁠—
Frosts have nipp’d them in the bud!
Dearest Saviour, hasten hither,
Thou canst make them bloom again;
Oh permit them not to wither,
Let not all our hopes be vain!

V

Let our mutual love be fervent,
Make us prevalent in pray’rs:
Let each one esteem’d thy servant
Shun the world’s bewitching snares;
Break the tempter’s fatal power,
Turn the stony heart to flesh:
And begin, from this good hour,
To revive thy work afresh.