Hymnal and Order of Service ‎#332

332. Eternity! Most Awful Word!

1 Eternity! most awful word!
Within the heart a piercing sword!
Beginning without ending!
Eternity, unmeasured time!
I sink beneath the thought sublime
That to Thee I am tending:
Deep horrors fill my quaking hear,
My lips in speech refuse to part.

2 Eternity! oh what a pang!
Eternity! No serpent's fang
Could send that thrill of terror;
When I revolve Thy clanking chains,
The dark abyss of deathless pains,
My soul is filled with horror.
Oh, search this universe around,
No equal terror can be found.

3 Awake, O man, from sinful sleep;
Henceforth thy feet from wandering keep:
Seek God by true repentance!
Awake, behold thy wasting sand,
Eternity is just at hand,
And brings thine awful sentence.
This is perchance thy final day:
This hour thy soul may haste away.

4 Eternity! most awful word!
Within the heart a piercing sword!
Beginning without ending!
Eternity! unmeasured time!
I sink beneath the thought sublime,
That I to thee am tending;
Lord Jesus, when it pleaseth Thee,
Grant me Thy blest eternity!

Text Information

• First Line: Eternity! most awful word!
• Title: Eternity! Most Awful Word!
• Author: Johann Rist, 1607-1667 (1642)
• Meter: 8 8 7, 8 8 7, 8 8.
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1901
• Topic: Eternity

Tune Information

• Name: O EWIGKEIT, DU DONNERWORT
• Composer: Johann Crüger, 1598-1662 (1653)
• Meter: 8 8 7, 8 8 7, 8 8.