Classic Poem

We thank thee, Lord! that here we stand,
At liberty to sing and pray;
No tyrant rules this happy land,
Whom we must ask, before we may!
Great God! one mercy more we crave —
Freedom to serve thee for the slave!

We thank thee, for the happy home,
Where, with our families, we rest;
That thither none may dare to come,
Of hard oppression's rod possess'd;
Father of all! we humbly crave
A sacred home to bless the slave.

We thank thee, that for public sale
We here, like cattle, do not stand —
Parting, with many a bitter wail,
To distant corners of the land;
O thou, whose love our feelings gave!
Have pity on the sever'd slave!

We thank thee, for the gospel call,
To ev'ry ear so freely sent!
That rich and poor, and great and small,
Are here instructed to repent!
Savior! one mercy more we crave —
A preached Gospel for the slave!

And should we live till years have flown,
Before these wretched ones are free,
We should not, Lord! deserve our own,
If we forgot their liberty;
No! still, from earth and heav'n we'd crave,
Freedom and Justice for the slave!