James Montgomery · 23 of 363
Hymn 20: A world of sinners once was drowned
HYMN XX.
A world of sinners once was drown'd, A deluge swept them all away; One family alone had found Mercy in that great Judgment Day.
Forewarn'd of wrath to come, they fear'd, And, taught by God, prepared an ark, Which o'er the waves in sunshine steer'd, Where all below was dead and dark.
Again the Spirit of the Lord Moved on the formless deep and void, And to the Patriarchs sight restored The relics of that world destroyed:
A world without a breathing soul, Or sign of life in plant or tree; Stretch'd like a corpse from pole to pole, Untravell'd land, unvoyaged sea!
Then from their hiding place they came, And straightway built an altar there; rose to heaven the double flame Of pure burnt sacrifice and prayer.
We, in an ark not made with hands, God's own new of peace, Which on the rock of ages stands, Seek refuge till his anger cease.
Then, as the cloud-born rainbow smiled On Noah's ransom'd ones, we trace Our heavenly Father In our Saviour's face.