When Moses waved his mystic rod

When Moses waved his mystic rod
What wonders followed while he spoke?
Firm as a wall the waters stood,
Or gushed in rivers from the rock!

At his command the thunders rolled,
Lightning and hail his voice obeyed;
And Pharaoh trembled, to behold
His land in desolation laid.

But what could Moses' rod have done
Had he not been divinely sent?
The pow'r was from the LORD alone,
And Moses but the instrument.

O Lord, regard thy peoples prayers!
Assist a worm to preach aright
And since thy gospel-rod he bears,
Display thy wonders in our sight.

Proclaim the thunders of thy law,
Like lightning let thine arrows fly,
That careless sinners, struck with awe,
For refuge may to JESUS cry!

Make streams of godly sorrow flow
From rocky hearts, unused to feel;
And let the poor in spirit know
That thou art near, their griefs to heal.

But chiefly, we would now look up
To ask a blessing for our youth,
The rising generation's hope,
That they may know and love thy truth.

Arise, O Lord, afford a sign,
Now shall our prayers success obtain;
Since both the means and pow'r are thine,
How can the rod be raised in vain!