1 The long last note has sounded,
The dead from dust to call;
The sinner stands confounded,
With fear on fear surrounded,
As by a sea unbounded,
Before the Judge of all.
2 No longer now delaying
The hour of dreaded doom;
No more the sentence staying,
No more the cross displaying,
In wrath His throne arraying,
The Judge, the Judge has come!
3 What wild shrill voice of mourning
Comes up from hill and plain?
Dark spirits, pardon scorning,
Proud hearts, long mercy spurning,
Bold rebels, deaf to warning,
Now cry, but cry in vain!
4 See how these heav’ns are rended
By yon sky-filling blast;
Earth’s year of grace is ended;
He who in clouds ascended,
Now, with Heav’n’s hosts attended,
Returns, returns at last!
5 Cease, man, thy God-defying;
Cease thy best friend to grieve;
Cease, man, thy self-relying;
Flee from the endless dying;
Swiftly thy time is flying;
Embrace the Son and live!
6 Give up thy vain endeavor
To heal thy wounds and woes;
He is of life the Giver,
And from His cross the river,
Which quenches thirst for ever,
All freely to thee flows.
7 With gush, and gleam, and singing,
See the bright fountain rise.
For thee that fount is springing,
To thee its gladness bringing—
Why then so madly clinging
To vanity and lies?
Source: The Cyber Hymnal #11304
Horatius Bonar was born at Edinburgh, in 1808. His education was obtained at the High School, and the University of his native city. He was ordained to the ministry, in 1837, and since then has been pastor at Kelso. In 1843, he joined the Free Church of Scotland. His reputation as a religious writer was first gained on the publication of the "Kelso Tracts," of which he was the author. He has also written many other prose works, some of which have had a very large circulation. Nor is he less favorably known as a religious poet and hymn-writer. The three series of "Hymns of Faith and Hope," have passed through several editions.
--Annotations of the Hymnal, Charles Hutchins, M.A. 1872… Go to person page >
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