From all that men call dear; Then had not God been pleased t’ appear, And take our cause in hand, And struck them with a panic fear, Which put them to a stand: Nay, had He not great judgments sent, And compassed them about, They were at that time fully bent To root us wholly out. Had He not gone with them that went, The seas had been their graves Or when they came where they were sent, They had been sold for slaves. But God was pleased still to give Them favour where they came, And in His truth they yet do live To praise His Holy Name. And now afresh do men contrive Another wicked way Of our estates us to deprive, And take our goods away. But will the Lord (who to this day Our part did always take) Now leave us to be made a prey, And that too for His sake? Can any one who calls to mind Deliverances past, Discouraged be at what’s behind, And murmur now at last? Oh that no unbelieving heart Among us may be found, That from the Lord would now depart, And coward-like give ground. For without doubt the God we serve Will still our cause defend, If we from Him do never swerve, But trust Him to the end. What if our goods by violence From us be torn, and we Of all things but our innocence Should wholly stripped be? Would this be more than did befall Good Job? Nay sure, much less: He lost estate, children and all, Yet he the Lord did bless. But did not God his stock augment Double what ’twas before? And this was writ to the intent That we should hope the more. View but the lilies of the field, That neither knit nor spin, Who is it that to them doth yield The robes they are decked in Doth not the Lord the ravens feed, And for the sparrows care? And will not He for His own seed All needful things prepare? The lions shall sharp hunger bear, And pine for lack of food; But who the Lord do truly fear, Shall nothing want that’s good. Oh! which of us can now diffide That God will us defend, Who hath been always on our side, And will be to the end. _Spes confisa Deo nunquam confusa recedet_. Hope which on God is firmly grounded Will never fail, nor be confounded.