DAY of Judgment, day of wonders!
Hark! the trumpet's awful sound,
Louder than a thousand thunders,
Shakes the vast creation round!
How the summons
Will the sinner's heart confound!
See the Judge our nature wearing,
Clothed in majesty divine!
You who long for His appearing
Then shall in His glory shine.
Gracious Saviour!
Own me in that day for Thine!
Then to those who have confessed,
Loved, and served the Lord below,
He will say, "Come near, ye blessed,
See the kingdom I bestow:
Shall My love and glory know."
THE Lord will come! the earth shall quake,
The hills their fixed seat forsake ;
And, withering, from the vault of night
The stars withdraw their feeble light.
The Lord will come! but not the same
As once in lowly form He came,
A silent Lamb to slaughter led,
The bruised, the suffering, and the dead.
The Lord will come! a dreadful form,
With wreath of flame, and robe of storm,
On cherub wings, and wings of wind,
Anointed Judge of human-kind.
Can this be He who wont to stray
A pilgrim on the world's highway,
By power oppress'd, and mock'd by pride,
The Nazarene, the Crucified ?
Go, tyrants! to the rocks complain;
Go, seek the mountain's cleft in vain ;
But faith, victorious o'er the tomb,
Shall sing for joy-The Lord is come!
O SAVIOUR, is Thy promise fled,
Nor longer might Thy grace endure
To heal the sick, and raise the dead,
And preach Thy Gospel to the poor?
Come, JESUS, come! return again;
With brighter beam Thy servants bless,
Who long to feel Thy perfect reign,
And share Thy kingdom's happiness.
Come, JESUS, come; and, as of yore,
The prophet went to clear Thy way,
A harbinger Thy feet before,
A dawning to Thy brighter day;
So now may grace with heavenly shower
Our stony hearts for truth prepare ;
power,
Sow in our souls the seed of
Then come and reap Thy harvest there.
COME, let us to the Lord our God
With contrite hearts return;
Our God is gracious, nor will leave
The desolate to mourn.
Long hath the night of sorrow reign'd
The dawn shall bring us light:
God shall appear, and we shall rise
With gladness in His sight.
Our hearts, if God we seek to know,
Shall know Him, and rejoice;
His coming like the morn shall be,
Like morning songs His voice.
As dew upon the tender herb,
Diffusing fragrance round;
As showers that usher in the spring,
And cheer the thirsty ground,
So shall His presence bless our souls,
And shed a joyful light;
That hallow'd morn shall chase away
The sorrows of the night.
HOSANNA to the living Lord!
Hosanna to the Incarnate Word!
To Christ, Creator, Saviour, King,
Let earth, let heaven Hosanna sing.
O Saviour! with protecting care
Return to this Thy House of Prayer:
Assembled in Thy sacred Name,
Where we Thy parting promise claim.
But, chiefest, in our cleansed breast,
Eternal! bid Thy Spirit rest;
And make our secret soul to be
A temple pure, and worthy Thee!
So, in the last and dreadful day,
When heaven and earth shall melt away,
Thy flock, redeem'd from sinful stain,
Shall swell the sound of praise again.
LIGHT of those whose dreary dwelling
Borders on the shades of death!
Rise on us, Thyself revealing,
Rise and chase the clouds beneath.
Thou, of life and light Creator!
In our deepest darkness rise;
Scatter all the night of nature;
Pour the day upon our eyes.
Still we wait for Thine appearing;
Life and joy Thy beams impart;
Chasing all our fears, and cheering
Every meek and contrite heart.
By Thine all-sufficient merit
Every burden'd soul release;
By the shining of Thy Spirit
Guide unto Thy perfect peace.
LOVE divine, all love excelling,
Joy of heaven, to earth come down!
Fix in us Thy humble dwelling,
All Thy faithful mercies crown.
JESU! Thou art all compassion,
Pure, unbounded love Thou art;
Visit us with Thy salvation,
Enter every waiting heart.
Come, Almighty to deliver!
Let us all Thy grace receive;
Suddenly return, and never,
Never more Thy temple leave:
Thee would we be ever blessing,
Serve Thee as Thy hosts above,
Pray, and praise Thee without ceasing,
Glory in Thy perfect love.
Finish then Thy new creation!
Pure and spotless may we be:
Let us see Thy great salvation;
Perfectly restored in Thee!
Changed from glory into glory,
Till in heaven we take our place,
Till we cast our crowns before Thee,
Lost in wonder, love, and praise.
HARK! the herald Angels sing-
Glory to the new-born King;
Peace on earth and mercy mild;
God and sinners reconciled."
ye
nations rise;
Join the triumph of the skies;
With the angelic host proclaim-
"Christ is born in Bethlehem."
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