363.
The Day of Judgment.
“Behold he cometh with clouds, and every eye shall see him!”
Rev. i. 7.
1
Lo! the Saviour comes to Judgment!
His pavilion round is night.
Arrows, and the rolling thunder
Still precede him in his flight!
Darkness flies!—upon the tempest,
Now he rides in splendours bright!
2
Angels, and arch-angels lofty,
Stedfast spirits, round him crowd!
At his look, the mightiest tremble!
At his sight, the heavens are bow'd!
“Lo! he cometh! rise, to Judgment!”
Through the earth, is heard aloud!
3
Wider spreads the fearful accent!
“Dead! awake! to judgment come!”
From their lowly beds uprising,
From their long-forgotten tomb,
Countless myriads hear the summons,
And come forth to hear their doom!
4
'Mid the awful expectation,
Sounds, bewailing, fill the air;
“Cover us, ye hills and mountains!
“Who the frown of heaven shall bear!”
Mountains heed not! Hills obey not!
Pledge, and prelude of despair!
5
Shall they 'scape?—all frantic! whither?
Though on morn's swift wing they fly;
Rush to caverns! plunge in ocean!
All is naked to his eye!
Bound by adamantine fetters,
They must meet the Judgment nigh!
6
Those shall see the Lord descending,
Him, whose sufferings were not mourn'd!
They shall look upon their Sovereign,
Whom, on earth, they pierced, and scorn'd!
Now exalted! now triumphant!
In his Father's Grace adorn'd!
7
There are others, not confounded;
Calm in hope,—without amaze!
While through heaven the whirlwinds traverse,
Who on flaming worlds can gaze!
Looking to their near redemption,
And the Seraphs' song of praise.
8
Hear the judge proclaim their welcome;
“You from future wrath are spared!
“Come, ye blessed of my Father!
“You his special love have shared!
“You are brought, through tribulation,
“To the kingdom long prepared!”
9
“Go, ye cursed! Go, ye cursed!”
Others hear, and shuddering stand!
“Outer darkness is your portion!
You are the rebellious band!”
From the heavenly Canaan banish'd!
From the pure, and promis'd land!
10
Now, at length, the consummation!
(Working thus Jehovah's will!)
Rising slow,—behold the trumpet!
Heaven itself with dread to fill!
Still it rises!—now is raised!
Every voice and harp is still!
11
Blast on blast! with lightnings mingling!
See yon pale expiring sun!
With the crash of thousand thunders,
Through all worlds the tidings run!—
Moments vanish!—Time is ended!
And Eternity begun!
