II. THE CHRISTIAN YEAR.

35

Advent.

HARK! the voice eternal,
Robed in majesty,

Calling into being

Earth and sea and sky;
Hark! in countless numbers

All the angel-throng

Hail creation's morning

With one burst of song.

High in regal glory,
'Mid eternal light,

Reign, O King immortal,
Holy, infinite.

2 Bright the world and glorious,
Calm both earth and sea,
Noble in its grandeur

Stood man's purity;

Came the great transgression,
Came the saddening fall,
Death and desolation

Breathing over all.

Still in regal glory,
'Mid eternal light,

Reigned the King immortal,
Holy, infinite.

3 Long the nations waited,
Through the troubled night,
Looking, longing, yearning,
For the promised light.

6.5.

Prophets saw the morning
Breaking far away,
Minstrels sang the splendor
Of that opening day.
Whilst in regal glory,
'Mid eternal light,

Reigned the King immortal
Holy, infinite.

4 Brightly dawned the Advent
Of the new-born King,
Joyously the watchers
Heard the angels sing.
Sadly closed the evening
Of His hallowed life,
As the noontide darkness
Veiled the last dread strife.
Lo! again in glory,
'Mid eternal light,

Reigns the King immortal,
Holy, infinite.

5 Lo! again He cometh,

Robed in clouds of light, As the Judge eternal,

Armed with power and might Nations to His footstool Gathered then shall be;

Earth shall yield her treasures,

And her dead, the sea.

Till the trumpet soundeth,
'Mid eternal light

Reign, Thou King immortal,
Holy, infinite.

6 Jesu! Lord and Master,
Prophet, Priest and King,
To Thy feet, triumphant,
Hallowed praise we bring.

Thine the pain and weeping,
Thine the victory;

Power, and praise, and honor,
Be, O Lord, to Thee.
High in regal glory,
'Mid eternal light,

Reign, O King immortal,
Holy, infinite.

This hymn may be sung with or without the refrain, as desired.

36

DAY of wrath! oh, day of mourning
See fulfilled the prophets' warning,
Heaven and earth in ashes burning'

8s.

2 Oh, what fear man's bosom rendeth, When from heaven the Judge descendeth, On Whose sentence all dependeth.

3 Wondrous sound the trumpet flingeth, Through earth's sepulchres it ringeth; All before the throne it bringeth.

4 Death is struck, and nature quaking, All creation is awaking,

To its Judge an answer making.

5 Lo! the Book exactly worded, Wherein all hath been recorded: Thence shall judgment be awarded.

6 When the Judge His seat attaineth, And each hidden deed arraigneth, Nothing unavenged remaineth.

7 What shall I, frail man, be pleading? Who for me be interceding,

When the just are mercy needing?

8 King of majesty tremendous, Who dost free salvation send us, Fount of pity, then befriend us!

9 Think, good Jesu, my salvation Cost Thy wondrous Incarnation; Leave me not to reprobation!

10 Faint and weary Thou hast sought me, On the cross of suffering bought me. Shall such grace be vainly brought me? 11 Righteous Judge! for sin's pollution Grant Thy gift of absolution, Ere that day of retribution.

12 Guilty, now I pour my moaning, All my shame with anguish owning; Spare, O God, Thy suppliant groaning!

13 Thou the sinful woman saved'st; Thou the dying thief forgavest; And to me a hope vouchsafest.

14 Worthless are my prayers and sighing, Yet, good Lord, in grace complying, Rescue me from fires undying!

15 With Thy favored sheep oh, place me! Nor among the goats abase me; But to Thy right hand upraise me.

16 While the wicked are confounded, Doomed to flames of woe unbounded, Call me, with Thy saints surrounded.

17 Low I kneel, with heart-submission,
See, like ashes, my contrition;
Help me in my last condition.

18 Ah! that day of tears and mourning! From the dust of earth returning

Man for judgment must prepare him;
Spare, O God, in mercy spare him!

19 Lord, all pitying, Jesu blest,
Grant us Thine eternal rest.

37

8.7.8.7.8.8.7.

GREAT God, what do I see and hear!

end of things created!

The Judge of mankind doth appear
On clouds of glory seated!

The trumpet sounds; the graves restore
The dead which they contained before;
Prepare, my soul, to meet Him!

2 The dead in Christ shall first arise
At the last trumpet's sounding,
Caught up to meet Him in the skies,
With joy their Lord surrounding:
No gloomy fears their souls dismay,
His presence sheds eternal day

On those prepared to meet Him.

3 But sinners, filled with guilty fears,
Behold His wrath prevailing;
For they shall rise and find their tears
And sighs are unavailing:

The day of grace is past and gone;
Trembling, they stand before the throne,
All unprepared to meet Him.

4 Great God, to Thee my spirit clings,
Thy boundless love declaring;
One wondrous sight my comfort brings,
The Judge my nature wearing.
Beneath His cross I view the day
When heaven and earth shall pass away,

And thus prepare to meet Him.