The Word of God to Leyden Came

The word of God to Leyden came, Dutch town by Zuyder-Zee; Rise up, my children of no name, My kings and priests to be. There is an empire in the West, Which I will soon unfold; A thousand harvests in her breast, Rocks ribbed with iron and gold. Rise up, my children, time is ripe! Old things are passed away. Bishops and kings from earth I wipe: Too long they’ve had their day. A little ship have I prepared To bear you o’er the seas; And in your souls, my will declared, Shall grow by slow degrees. Beneath my throne the martyrs cry: I hear their voice, How long? It mingles with their praises high, And with their victor song. The thing they longed and waited for, But died without the sight; So, this shall be! I wrong abhor, The world I ’ll now set right. Leave, then, the hammer and the loom, You’ve other work to do; For Freedom’s commonwealth there ’s room, And you shall build it too. I ’m tired of bishops and their pride, I ’m tired of kings as well; Henceforth I take the people’s side, And with the people dwell. Tear off the mitre from the priest, And from the king, his crown; Let all my captives be released; Lift up, whom men cast down. Their pastors let the people choose, And choose their rulers too; Whom they select, I ’ll not refuse, But bless the work they do. The Pilgrims rose, at this God’s word, And sailed the wintry seas: With their own flesh nor blood conferred, Nor thought of wealth or ease. They left the towers of Leyden town, They left the Zuyder-Zee; And where they cast their anchor down, Rose Freedom’s realm to be.