296. And am I only born to die?

1 And am I only born to die?
And must I suddenly comply
With nature’s stern decree?
What after death for me remains?
Celestial joys, or hellish pains,
To all eternity.

2 How then ought I on earth to live,
While God prolongs the kind reprieve,
And props the house of clay;
My sole concern, my single care,
To watch, and tremble, and prepare
Against the fatal day!

3 No room for mirth or trifling here,
For worldly hope, or worldly fear,
If life so soon is gone;
If now the judge is at the door,
And all mankind must stand before
The inexorable throne!

4 Nothing is worth a thought beneath,
But how I may escape the death
That never, never dies!
How make mine own election sure;
And when I fail on earth, secure
A mansion in the skies.

5 Jesus, vouchsafe a pitying ray,
Be Thou my guide, be Thou my way
To glorious happiness.
Ah! write the pardon on my heart;
And whensoe’er I hence depart,
Let me depart in peace.

Text Information
First Line: And am I only born to die?
Meter: C. P. M.
Language: English
Publication Date: 1870
Topic: Brevity of Life; Gospel Call; Day of grace (8 more...)
Notes: Author from index: C. Wesley
Tune Information
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