1 DAY of judgment, day of wonders! 2 See the Judge, our nature wearing, 3 At his call the dead awaken, Rise to life from earth and sea: All the pow'rs of nature, shaken By his looks, prepare to flee: Careless sinner, what will then become of thee? 4 Horrors past imagination Will surprise your trembling heart, "Hence, accursed wretch depart! "Thou with Satan and his angels have thy part!" 5 Satan, who now tries to please you, Lest you timely warning take, When that word is past will seize you, Plunge you in the burning lake: Think, poor sinner, thy eternal all's at stake. 6 But to those who have confessed, Lov'd and serv'd the Lord below, 7 Under sorrows and reproaches, [raise; When you hear your condemnation, We shall triumph when the world is LXXVIII. The Day of the Lord.† 1 GOD, with one piercing glance, looks | 3 As pangs the lab'ring woman feels, through Creation's wide-extended frame; The past and future, in his view, And days, and ages, are the same. 2 Sinners who dare provoke his face, Who on his patience long pre Or as the thief, in midnight-sleep! So comes that day, for which the wheels [keep! Of time their ceaseless motion 4 Hark! from the sky the trump proclaims Jesus the Judge approaching nigh! See, the creation wrapt in flames, First kindled by his vengeful eye! Book iii. Hymn 4, 2 Pet. iii. 8-10. [burn; 5 When thus the mountains melt like wax; When earth, and air, and sea shall When all the frame of nature breaks, Poor sinner, whither wilt thou turn? 6 The puny works which feeble men Now boast, or covet, or admire; 7 Their pomp, and arts, and treasures then Shall perish in one common fire. Lord, fix our hearts and hopes above! Since all below to ruin tends; Here may we trust, obey, and love, And there be found amongst thy friends. LXXIX. The great Tribunal.* 1 JOHN, in a vision, saw the day When the Judge will hasten down: Heav'n and earth shall flee away From the terror of his frown: 2 Can I bear his awful looks? Shall I stand in judgment then, 3 When the list shall be produc'd Conscience, then, compell'd to read, 4 But the book of life I see, May my name be written there!' Glad I'll meet him in the air: "Tis the Gospel open'd wide; I have sinn'd, but thou hast dy'd.t 5 Now my soul knows what to do ; Thus I shall with boldness stand, Number'd with the faithful few, Own'd and sav'd at thy right hand: If thou help a feeble worm To believe thy promise now, 5 The new creation of the soul Does now no less his pow'r display, Than when he form'd the mighty whole, And kindled darkness into day.* 6 Though self-destroy'd, O Lord, we are, Yet let us feel what thou canst do; Thy word the ruin can repair, And all our hearts create anew. LXXXI. The Book of Creation. 1 THE book of nature open lies, With much instruction stor'd; But, till the Lord anoints our eyes, We cannot read a word. Philosophers have por❜d in vain, And guess'd from age to age; For reason's eye could ne'er attain To understand a page. 3 Though to each star they give a name, Its size and motions teach; The truths which all the stars proclaim Their wisdom cannot reach. 4 With skill to measure earth and sea, 5 The knowledge of the saints excels 7 The creatures on their senses press, As witnesses to prove Their Saviour's pow'r and faithfulness, His providence and love. 8 Thus may we study nature's book, LXXXII. The Rainbow. 1 WHEN the sun, with cheerful beams, | 3 All their graces doubly shine, Smiles upon a low'ring sky, 2 Thus the Lord's supporting pow'r Brightest to his saints appears, He can wonders then perform, When their troubles press them sore; And the promises, divine, Give them joys unknown before: 4 Favour'd John a rainbow saw, Circling round the throne above; Hence the saints a pledge may draw Of unchanging cov'nant-love: Clouds a while may intervene, But the bow will still be seen. LXXXIII. Thunder. 1 WHEN a black o'erspreading cloud | 2 Then guilt and fear, the fruits of sin, A louder storm is heard within, * 2 Cor. iv. 6. Matth. vi. 26-28. + Rom. i. 20. || Gen. ix. 14. § Rev. iv. 3. LXXXIV. Lightning in the Night. 1 A GLANCE from heav'n, with sweet effect, [cheers; Sometimes my pensive spirit But ere I can my thoughts collect, As suddenly it disappears. 2 So lightning, in the gloom of night, Affords a momentary day; Disclosing objects full in sight, Which, soon as seen, are snatch'd away. 9 Ah! what avail these pleasing scenes! They do but aggravate my pain; Sent to control my unbelief, [true. 5 The lightning's flash did not create The op'ning prospect it reveal'd; But only show'd the real state Of what the darkness had conceal'd. 6 Just so, we by a glimpse discern The glorious things within the vail; That, when in darkness, we may learn To live by faith, till light prevail. While darkness quickly intervenes, 7 The Lord's great day will soon ad And swallows up my joys again. 4 But shall I murmur at relief? Tho' short, it was a precious view, LXXXV. On the Eclipse of the Moon. July 30, 1776. 1 THE moon in silver glory shone, 2 How fast across her orb it spread, 3 While many, with unmeaning eye, VOL. II. 募 Assist me, Lord, that I may try 4 Fain would my thankful heart and Unite in praise of thee, 5 Thy people's guilt, a heavy load, 2 Pet. iii. 10. 73 1 THE moon has but a borrow'd light, | 4 Thus moonlight views of truth divine A faint and feeble ray; She owes her beauty to the night, 2 No cheering warmth her beam con veys, Though pleasing to behold; We might upon her brightness gaze Till we were num'd with cold. 3 Just such is all the light to man Which reason can impart, To many fatal prove; For what avail in gifts to shine Without a spark of love?† 5 The Gospel, like the sun at noon, 6 And grace not light alone bestows, |