Part 22 (1/2)
Psalm 50:5. To a new Tune.
The last judgment.
1 The Lord the Sovereign sends his summons forth, Calls the south nations, and awakes the north; From east to west the sounding orders spread Thro' distant worlds and regions of the dead: No more shall atheists mock his long delay; His vengeance sleeps no more: behold the day!
2 Behold the Judge descends; his guards are nigh; Tempest and fire attend him down the sky: Heaven, earth and h.e.l.l draw near; let all things come To hear his justice and the sinners doom: But gather first my saints (the Judge commands) Bring them, ye angels, from their distant lands.
3 Behold! my covenant stands for ever good, Seal'd by the eternal sacrifice in blood, And sign'd with all their names; the Greek, the Jew, That paid the ancient wors.h.i.+p or the new.
There's no distinction here: come spread their thrones, And near me seat my favorites and my sons.
4 I their almighty Saviour and their G.o.d, I am their Judge: ye heavens, proclaim abroad My just eternal sentence, and declare Those awful truths that sinners dread to hear: Sinners in Zion, tremble and retire; I doom the painted hypocrite to fire.
5 Not for the want of goats or bullocks slain Do I condemn thee; bulls and goats are vain Without the flames of love: in vain the store Of brutal offerings that were mine before; Mine are the tamer beasts and savage breed, Flocks, herds, and fields, and forests where they feed.
6 If I were hungry would I ask thee food?
When did I thirst, or drink thy bullocks blood?
Can I be flatter'd with thy cringing bows, Thy solemn chatterings and fantastic vows?
Are my eyes charm'd thy vestments to behold, Glaring in gems, and gay in woven gold?
7 Unthinking wretch! how couldst thou hope to please A G.o.d, a spirit, with such toys as these?
While with my grace and statutes on thy tongue, Thou lov'st deceit, and dost thy brother wrong; In vain to pious forms thy zeal pretends, Thieves and adulterers are thy chosen friends.
8 Silent I waited with lone-suffering love, But didst thou hope that I should ne'er reprove?
And cherish such an impious thought within, That G.o.d the righteous would indulge thy sin?
Behold my terrors now: my thunders roll, And thy own crimes affright thy guilty soul.
9 Sinners, awake betimes; ye fools, be wise; Awake, before this dreadful morning rise; Change your vain thoughts, your crooked works amend, Fly to the Saviour, make the Judge your friend; Lest like a lion his last vengeance tear Your trembling souls, and no deliverer near.
Psalm 50:6. To the old proper Tune.
The last judgment.
1 The G.o.d of glory sends his summons forth, Calls the south nations, and awakes the north; From east to west the sov'reign orders spread, Thro' distant worlds, and regions of the dead: The trumpet sounds; h.e.l.l trembles; heaven rejoices; Lift up your heads, ye saints, with cheerful voices.
2 No more shall atheists mock his long delay; His vengeance sleeps no more; behold the day; Behold the Judge descends; his guards are nigh; Tempests and fire attend him down the sky.
When G.o.d appears, all nature shall adore him; While sinners tremble, saints rejoice before him,
3 ”Heaven, earth, and h.e.l.l, draw near; let all things come ”To hear my justice and the sinner's doom; ”But gather first my saints,” the Judge commands, ”Bring them, ye angels from their distant lands:”
When Christ returns, wake every cheerful pa.s.sion, And shout, ye saints; he comes for your salvation.
4 ”Behold my covenant stands for ever good, ”Seal'd by th' eternal sacrifice in blood, ”And sign'd with all their names, the Greek, the Jew, ”That paid the ancient wors.h.i.+p or the new.”
There's no distinction here: join all your voices, And raise your heads, ye saints, for heaven rejoices.
5 ”Here (saith the Lord) ye angels, spread their thrones: ”And near me seat my favorites and my sons: ”Come, my redeem'd, possess the joys prepar'd ”Ere time began! 'tis your divine reward:”
When Christ returns, wake every cheerful pa.s.sion, And shout, ye saints; he comes for your salvation.
PAUSE THE FIRST.
6 ”I am the Saviour, I th' almighty G.o.d, ”I am the Judge: ye heavens, proclaim abroad ”My just eternal sentence, and declare ”Those awful truths that sinners dread to hear,”
When G.o.d appears all nature shall adore him; While sinners tremble, saints rejoice before him.