1 BEHOLD the Bridegroom cometh in the middle of the night,
And blest is he whose loins are girt, whose lamp is burning bright;
But woe to that dull servant whom the Master shall surprise
With lamp untrimmed, unburning, and with slumber in his eyes!
2 Do thou, my soul, beware, beware, lest thou in sleep sink down,
Lest thou be given o'er to death, and lose the golden crown ;
But see that thou be sober, with watchful eyes, and thus
Cry, “Holy, Holy, Holy God, have mercy upon us !”
3 That day, the day of fear, shall come: my soul, slack not thy toil,
But light thy lamp, and feed it well, and make it bright with oil ;
Who knowest not how soon may sound the cry at eventide,
“Behold, the Bridegroom comes ! Arise ! Go forth to meet the Bride."
4 Beware, my soul! beware, beware, lest thou in slumber lie,
And, like the five, remain without and knock and vainly cry;
But watch, and bear thy lamp undimmed, and Christ shall gird thee on
His own bright wedding-robe of light, the glory of the Son.
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1 REJOICE, all ye believers,
And let your lights appear ;
The evening is advancing,
And darker night is near :
The Bridegroom is arising,
And soon He draweth nigh:
Up! pray, and watch, and wrestle!
At midnight comes the cry.
2 The watchers on the mountain
Proclaim the Bridegroom near ;
Go meet Him as He cometh,
With hallelujahs clear:
The marriage-feast is waiting,
The gates wide-open stand;
Up, up, ye heirs of glory!
The Bridegroom is at hand. 3 Our Hope and Expectation,
O Jesus, now appear ;
Arise, Thou Sun so longed for,
O'er this benighted sphere !
With heart and hands uplifted,
We plead, O Lord, to see
The day of earth's redemption,
That brings us unto Thee !
1 The world is
very
The times are waxing late :
Be sober and keep vigil ;
The Judge is at the gate ;
The Judge who comes in mercy,
The Judge who comes in might,
To terminate the evil,
And vindicate the right.
2 Prepare we then to meet Him;
Let right to wrong succeed;
Let penitential sorrow
To heavenly gladness lead :
So may we sound His praises,
Who from destruction saved,
Bore with us in defilement,
And from defilement laved.
3 Far, far, as we have wandered,
And deep as is our fall,
His mercies never fail us,
Who freely pardons all;
Who bids His grace abounding
Love's mightiness display,
And David's royal fountain
Purge every sin away.
1 ETERNITY! eternity!
How long art thou, eternity!
A moment's pleasure sinners know,
Through which they pass to endless woe;
A moment's woe the righteous taste,
Through which to endless joys they haste:
Mark well, o man, eternity!
2 Eternity ! eternity!
Awful art thou, eternity!
Who looks to thee, alone is wise:
Sin's pleasures all he can despise,
The world attracts him now no more,
His love to vain delights is o'er :
His thoughts are on eternity.
3 Eternity! eternity!
How dreadful is eternity!
O Thou eternal King and God,
Here prove us with Thy chastening rod,
Here let us all Thy judgments bear;
Hereafter Lord in mercy spare :
Oh spare us in eternity!
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