DAY of wrath! that awful day,
Shall the banner'd Cross display,
Earth in ashes melt away.
When the trumpet's thrilling tone,
Through the tombs of ages gone,
Summons all before the throne.
Death and time shall stand aghast,
And creation-at the blast,
Rise to answer for the past.
Then the volume shall be spread,
And the writing shall be read,
Which shall judge the quick and dead.
Judge of justice! Thee I pray,
Wash Thou all my sins away,
Ere that awful reckoning day.
Nought of Thee my prayers can claim, Save in Thy free mercy's name— Shield me from the deathless flame.
King of dreadful Majesty,
Saving souls in mercy free,
Fount of Pity, save Thou me.
Weary seeking me wast Thou,
And for me in death didst bow,
Be Thy toils availing now.
When the lost to silence driven,
To devouring flames are given,
Call me with the blest to heaven.
Day of sorrow-day of fear!
When the risen dead draw near,
At the Judgment to appear.
Lord, all-pitying Jesu, blest,
Grant us Thine eternal rest.
THE Lord will come! the earth shall quake,
The hills their ancient seat forsake;
And withering from the vault of night,
The stars no more shall yield their 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,
Mid cloud and darkness, fire and storm!
On cherub wings, and wings of wind,
Anointed Judge of human-kind.
O King of mercy, grant us power
To stand in that tremendous hour,
Before Thy wrath, when sinners flee,
Vouchsafe to gather us to Thee.
To Jesus, Lord of earth and heaven,
Incarnate God; all praise be given,
To Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
From men on earth, and angel host.
HARK! an awful voice is sounding;
"Christ is nigh," it seems to say;
Cast away the works of darkness,
O ye children of the day.
Startled at the solemn warning,
Let the earth-bound soul arise;
Christ, our Sun, all gloom dispelling,
Shines upon the morning skies.
Lo! the Lamb, so long expected,
Comes with pardon down from heaven;
Let us haste, with tears of sorrow,
One and all to be forgiven.
So when next He comes in glory,
Wrapping all the earth in fear;
May He with His mercy shield us;
May He, to forgive, draw near!
Honour, glory, virtue, merit,
To the Father and the Son,
With the everlasting Spirit,
While eternal ages run.
ON Jordan's bank the Baptist's cry
Announces that the Lord is nigh;
Come ye and hearken-for he brings
Glad tidings from the King of kings.
Now cleansed be every Christian breast,
And furnished for so great a guest;
Yea, let each our hearts prepare
For Christ to come and enter there.
For Thou art our salvation, Lord,
Our refuge and our great reward;
Without Thy grace our souls must fade,
And wither like a flower decayed.
All praise and glory be to Thee,
Whose advent set Thy people free!
Like praise be to the Father done,
And Holy Spirit, Three in One.
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