Hymn on War

While sounds of War are heard around, And death and ruin strew the ground— To thee we look, on thee we call, The Parent and the Lord of all.

Thou, who hast stamp'd on human kind, The image of a heav'n-born mind, And in a father's wide embrace Hast cherish'd all the kindred race.

O see! with what insatiate rage Thy sons their impious battles wage; How spreads destruction like a flood, And brothers shed their brothers' blood!

See guilty passions spring to birth, And deeds of hell deform the earth; While righteousness and justice mourn, And love and pity droop forlorn.

Great God! whose pow'rful hand can bind The raging waves, the furious wind, O bid the human tempest cease, And hush the madd'ning world to peace

With rev'rence may each hostile land Hear and obey that high command, Thy Son's blest errand from above, "My creatures, live in mutual love."