The Doomed Man › Representative Texts

1 There is a time, we know not when,
A point, we know not where,
That marks the destiny of man
To glory or despair.

2 There is a line, by us unseen,
That crosses every path;
The hidden boundary between
God's patience and His wrath.

3 To pass that limit is to die,
To die as if by stealth;
It does not quench the beaming eye,
Or pale the glow of health.

4 The conscience may be still at ease,
The spirits light and gay;
That which is pleasing still may please,
And care be thrust away.

5 But on the forehead God has set,
Indelibly, a mark,
Unseen by man, for man as yet
Is blind and in the dark.

6 And yet the doomed man's path below
Like Eden may have bloomed;
He did not, does not, will not know
Or feel that he is doomed.

7 He knows, he feels that all is well,
And every fear is calmed;
He lives, he dies, he wakes in hell,
Not only doomed, but damned.

8 Oh where is this mysterious bourne,
By which our path is crossed,
Beyond which, God himself hath sworn
That he who goes is lost?

9 How far may we go on in sin?
How long will God forbear?
Where does hope end? and where begin
The confines of despair?

10 An answer from the skies is sent;
Ye that from God depart,
While it is called to-day, repent!
And harden not your heart.

The Book of Worship #291

1 There is a time, I know not when,
A place, I know not where;
That marks the destiny of man,
To glory or despair.
There is a line by us unseen,
That crosses every path,
The hidden boundary between
God’s patience and His wrath.

Refrain:
Beware! O soul, beware!
Lest you cross the deadline tonight;
Take care! O dying soul, take care!
Don’t miss the guiding light.

2 To pass that limit is to die,
To die as if by stealth;
It does not quench the beaming eye,
Or pale the glow of health.
The conscience still may be at ease,
The spirit light and gay;
That which is pleasing still may please
And care be thrust away. [Refrain]

3 How far may we go on in sin?
How long will God forbear?
Where does hope end? and where begin
The confines of despair?
An answer from the sky is sent,
Ye that from God depart,
While it is called today, repent
And harden not your heart. [Refrain]

The Cyber Hymnal #12343

1 There is a time—we know not when, a point—we know not where,
That marks the destiny of men to glory or despair;
There is a line, by us unseen, that crosses ev’ry path,
The hidden boundary between God’s patience and His wrath.

Refrain:
Oh, come today, do not delay, too late it soon will be;
To Jesus fly, for mercy cry, He waits to welcome thee.

2 To pass that limit is to die, to die as if by stealth;
It does not quench the beaming eye, nor fade the glow of health;
The conscience may be still at ease, the spirit light and gay;
That which is pleasing, still may please, and care be thrust away. [Refrain]

3 But on that forehead God has set indelibly a mark,
Unseen by man, for man, as yet, is blind and in the dark;
And yet the doomed man’s path below like Eden may have bloomed,
He did not, does not, will not know nor feel that he is doomed. [Refrain]

4 He thinks or feels that all is well, and ev’ry fear is calmed;
He lives, he dies, he wakes in Hell, not only doomed but damned!
Oh, where is this mysterious bourn by which our path is crossed,
Beyond which God Himself hath sworn that he who goes is lost? [Refrain]

5 How far may we go on in sin? how long will God forbear?
Where does hope end, and where begin the confines of despair?
An answer from the skies is sent, “Ye that from God depart,
While it is called “today” repent, and harden not your heart.” [Refrain]

The Joy Bells of Canaan or Burning Bush Songs No. 2 #72

1 There is a time, we know not when,
A point, we know not where,
That marks the destiny of men,
To glory or despair;

2 There is a time by us unseen,
That crosses ev'ry path,
The hidden boundary between
God's patience and his wrath.

3 How far may we go on in sin?
How long will God forbear?
Where does hope end, and where begin
The confines of despair?

4 An answer from the skies is sent:
Ye that from God depart,
While it is called to-day, repent!
And harden not your heart."


The Little Seraph: in seven character notes, for churches and Sunday-schools #91