The eyes grow dim and short the breath,
Presages of approaching death.

4 When clammy sweats thro' ev'ry part,
Show life's retreating to the heart;
Its last resistance there to make,
And then the breathless frame forsake.
5 When all eternity's in sight;

The brightest day, or blackest night;
One shock will break the building down
And let thee into worlds unknown.
6 O come, my soul, the matter weigh!
How wilt thou leave thy kindred clay!
And how the unknown regions try,
And launch into eternity!

234.

L. M.

The night cometh. John ix. 4
1 AWAKE, awake, my sluggish soul,
Awake, and view the setting sun;
See how the shades of death advance,
Ere half the task of life is done.
2 Death!-'tis an awful,.solemn sound;
Oh, let it wake the slumb'ring ear!
Apace the dreadful conqueror comes,
With all his pale companions near.
3 l'hy drowsy eyes will soon be clos'd,-
These friendly warnings heard no more
Soon will the mighty Judge approach,
E'en now he stands before the door.

To-day attend his gracious voice;

This is the summons that he sends: "Awake,-for on this transient hour 'T'hy long eternity depends."

235.7

1

L. M.

•The sinner weighed and found wanting. Dan. v. 27.

RAISE, thoughtless sinner, raise thine eye; Behold God's balance lifted high!

There shall his justice be display'd, And there thy hope and life be weigh'd. 2 See in one scale his perfect law; Mark with what force its precepts draw: Wouldst thou the awful test sustain?Thy works how light! thy thoughts how vain! 3 Behold the hand of God appears

To trace in dreadful characters; "Sinner-thy soul is wanting found, And wrath shall smite thee to the ground." Let gudden fear thy nerves unbrace; Let horror change thy guilty face; Thro' all thy thoughts let anguish roll, Till deep repentance melt thy soul. 5 One only hope may yet prevail;Christ hath a weight to turn the scale; Still doth the gospel publish peace, And show a Saviour's righteousness. 6 Great God, exert thy power to save; Deep on the heart, these truths engrave; The pond'rous load of guilt remove, That trembling lips may sing thy love.

236.

1

C. M.

The Scoffer.

ALL ye who laugh and sport with death,
And say, there is no hell;

The gasp of your expiring breath
Will send you there to dwell.

2 When iron slumbers bind your flesh,
With strange surprise you'll find
Immortal vigour springs afresh,

And tortures wake the mind!

3 Then you'll confess the frightful names
Of plagues, you scorn'd before,
No more shall look like idle dreams,
Like foolish tales no more.

4 Then shall ye curse that fatal day,
With flames upon your tongues,
When you exchang'd your souls away
For vanity and songs.

237.

S. M.

The harvest is past. Jer. vii. 20

1 I SAW, beyond the tomb,

The awful Judge appear,

Prepar'd to scan with strict account,
My blessings wasted here.

2 His wrath like flaming fire,
Burn'd to the lowest hell-
And in that hopeless world of wo,
He bade my spirit dwell.

3 Ye sinners, fear the Lord,
While yet 'tis call'd to day;
Soon will the awful voice of death
Command your souls away.

4 Soon will the harvest close-
The summer soon be o'er-
And soon, your injur'd, angry God
Will hear your prayers no more.

238.

P. M.

Rom. iii. 16.

WHEN frowning death appears,

And points his fatal dart,

What dark foreboding fears
Distract the sinner's heart!

The dreadful blow

No arm can stay,

But torn away
He sinks to wo.

2 Now every hope denied,
Bereft of every good,
He must the wrath abide
Of an avenging God;

No mercy there
Will greet his ear
Nor wipe the tear
Of black despair.

3 Sinners, awake, attend,
And flee the wrath to come;
Make Christ, the Judge, your friend,
And heav'n shall be your home:
His mercy nigh,

239.

1

Now points the path
That leads from death
To joys on high.

P. M.

Sinner, prepare to meet God

SINNER, art thou still secure?
Wilt thou still refuse to pray?
Can thy heart or hands endure
In the Lord's avenging day?
2 See, his mighty arm is bar'd!

Awful terrors clothe his brow!
For his judgment stand prepar'd,
Thou must either break or bow.
3 At his presence nature shakes,
Earth affrighted hastes to flee;
Solid mountains melt like wax,
What will then become of thee?

4 Who his advent may abide?

You that glory in your shame, Will you find a place to hide, When the world is wrapt in flame? 5 Lord, prepare us by thy grace! Soon we must resign our breath, And our souls be call'd to pass Through the iron gate of death.

6 Let us now our day improve, Listen to the gospel voice:

Seek the things that are above;
Scorn the world's pretended joys.

1 STOP, poor sinners, stop and think,
Before you further go;

Will you sport upon the brink
Of everlasting wo!

On the verge of ruin stop

Now the friendly warning take-
Stay your footsteps-ere ye drop
Into the burning lake.

2 Say, have you au arm like God,
That you his will oppose?
Fear ye not that iron rod

With which he breaks his foes?
Can you stand in that dread day,
Which his justice shall proclaim,
When the earth shall melt away
Like wax before the flame?

3 Ghastly death will quickly come,
And drag you to his bar;
Then to hear your awful doom,
Will fill you with despair!
All your sins will round you crowd;
You shall mark their crimson dye;
Each for vengeance crying loud,
And what can you reply?

Tho' your heart were made of steel,
Your forehead lin'd with brass;
God at length will make you feel,
He will not let you pass;
Sinners, then in vain will call,

Those who now despise his grace, "Rocks and mountains on us fall, And hide us from his face."