71.

HARK! a thrilling voice is sounding:
"Christ is nigh" it seems to say;
"Cast away the powers of darkness,
O ye children of the day."

Startled at the solemn warning,
Let the earth-bound soul arise:
All the powers of darkness vanish;
Christ our Daystar mounts the skies.

Lo! the Lamb, so long expected,

Comes with pardon down from heaven:
Let us haste with tears of sorrow,
One and all, to be forgiven.

So when next He shines in glory,
Wrapping all the earth in fear,
Not for chastening, but salvation,
Unto us shall He appear.

Honour, glory, might, dominion,
To the Father and the Son,
With the Everlasting Spirit,

While eternal ages run.

Chiefly by EDWARD CASWALL, 1849, from a Latin hymn of the 5th century, recast in the 17th.

72.

WAKE, awake, for night is flying;

The watchmen on the heights are crying;
Awake, Jerusalem, at last.

Midnight hears the welcome voices,
And at the thrilling cry rejoices.
Come forth, ye virgins, night is past.
The Bridegroom comes; awake,
Your lamps with gladness take.
Hallelujah!

And for His marriage feast prepare,
For ye must go to meet Him there.

Zion hears the watchmen singing,
And all her heart with joy is springing;
She wakes, she rises from her gloom;
For her Lord comes down all-glorious,
The strong in grace, in truth victorious;
Her Star is risen, her Light is come.
Ah! come, Thou blessed Lord,
O Jesus, Son of God.

Hallelujah!

We follow till the halls we see

Where Thou hast bid us sup with Thee.

Translation by CATHERINE WINKWORTH, 1858,

from the German of PHILIPP NICOLAI, 1599.