| Day of wrath! O day of mourning! See fulfilled the prophets' warning, Heaven and earth in ashes burning! | | O what fear man's bosom rendeth, When from heaven the Judge descendeth, On whose sentence all dependeth. | | Wondrous sound the trumpet flingeth; Through earth's sepulchers it ringeth; All before the throne it bringeth. | | Death is struck, and nature quaking, All creation is awaking, To its Judge an answer making. | | Lo! the book, exactly worded, Wherein all hath been recorded: Thence shall judgment be awarded. | | When the Judge his seat attaineth, And each hidden deed arraigneth, Nothing unavenged remaineth. | | What shall I, frail man, be pleading? Who for me be interceding, When the just are mercy needing? | | King of Majesty tremendous, Who dost free salvation send us, Fount of pity, then befriend us! | | Think, good Jesus, my salvation Cost thy wondrous Incarnation; Leave me not to reprobation! | | Faint and weary, thou hast sought me, On the cross of suffering bought me. Shall such grace be vainly brought me? | | Righteous Judge! for sin's pollution Grant thy gift of absolution, Ere the day of retribution. | | Guilty, now I pour my moaning, All my shame with anguish owning; Spare, O God, thy suppliant groaning! | | Thou the sinful woman savedst; Thou the dying thief forgavest; And to me a hope vouchsafest. | | Worthless are my prayers and sighing, Yet, good Lord, in grace complying, Rescue me from fires undying! | | With thy favoured sheep O place me; Nor among the goats abase me; But to thy right hand upraise me. | | While the wicked are confounded, Doomed to flames of woe unbounded, Call me with thy saints surrounded. | | Low I kneel, with heart submission, See, like ashes, my contrition; Help me in my last condition. | | 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! | | Lord, all pitying, Jesus blest, Grant them thine eternal rest. | |