1 God, the omnipresent God,
Our strength and refuge stands
Ready to support our load,
And bear us in His hands:
Readiest when we need Him most,
When to Him distressed we cry;
All who on His mercy trust
Shall find deliverance nigh.
2 Kept by Him, we scorn to fear
In danger’s blackest day,
Starting at destruction near,
Though nature faint away,
Though the stormy ocean roar,
Though the madding billows rise,
Rage, and foam, and lash the shore,
And mingle earth and skies.
3 Let earth’s inmost center quake,
And shattered nature mourn,
Let unwieldy mountains shake,
And fall by storms uptorn,
Fall with all their trembling load
Far into the ocean hurled,
Lo! We stand secure in God,
Amidst a ruined world.
4 From the throne of God there springs
A pure and crystal stream,
Life, and peace, and joy it brings
To His Jerusalem:
Rivers of refreshing grace
Through the sacred city flow,
Watering all the hallowed place
Where God resides below.
5 God most merciful, most high,
Doth in His Sion dwell,
Kept by Him their towers defy
The strength of earth and hell;
Built on her o’ershadowing Rock,
Who shall her foundations move?
Who her great defender shock—
The Almighty God of love.
6 All that on this Rock are stayed
The world assaults in vain,
Ever present with His aid
He shall His own sustain:
Guardian of the chosen race,
Jesus doth His church defend,
Save them by His timely grace,
And keep them to the end.
7 Furiously the heathen raged
Against His church below,
Kingdoms all their power engaged
Jerusalem t’o’erthrow;
Earth from her foundation stirred,
Yawned to swallow up her prey,
Jesus spoke, she owned His word,
And quaked, and fled away.
8 For His people in distress
The God of Jacob stands,
Keeps us, ’till our troubles cease,
In His almighty hands:
He for us His power hath shown,
He doth still our refuge prove;
Loves the Lord of hosts His own,
And shall forever love.
9 Come, behold the Almighty Lord
In robes of vengeance clad;
By the desolating sword
What havoc hath He made!
He hath sent His armies forth,
States and kingdoms to o’erthrow,
Marched in anger through the earth,
And ravaged all below.
10 Lo! Again in tender love
He bids their discords cease,
Calms their spirit from above,
And melts them into peace;
Breaks the bow and burns the car,
Instruments of fatal ill,
Quells the horrid din of war,
And bids the world be still.
11 "Sons of men, be still, and know
That I am God alone;
I my saving power will show,
And make my goodness known;
All shall with my will comply";
Fear the name to sinners given,
Bow before the Lord most high,
The Lord of earth and Heav’n.
12 For His people in distress
The God of Jacob stands,
Bears us, ’till our troubles cease,
In His almighty hands:
He for us His power hath shown,
He doth still our refuge prove,
Loves the Lord of hosts His own,
And shall forever love.
Source: The Cyber Hymnal #8926
Charles Wesley, M.A. was the great hymn-writer of the Wesley family, perhaps, taking quantity and quality into consideration, the great hymn-writer of all ages. Charles Wesley was the youngest son and 18th child of Samuel and Susanna Wesley, and was born at Epworth Rectory, Dec. 18, 1707. In 1716 he went to Westminster School, being provided with a home and board by his elder brother Samuel, then usher at the school, until 1721, when he was elected King's Scholar, and as such received his board and education free. In 1726 Charles Wesley was elected to a Westminster studentship at Christ Church, Oxford, where he took his degree in 1729, and became a college tutor. In the early part of the same year his religious impressions were much deepene… Go to person page >
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