John In Vision Saw the Day

John in vision saw the day
When the Judge will hasten down;
Heav�n and earth shall flee away
From the terror of His frown:

Dead and living, small and great,
Raised from the earth and sea;
At His bar shall hear their fate,
What will then become of me?

Can I bear His awful looks?
Shall I stand in judgment then,
When I see the opened books,
Written by th� Almighty�s pen?

If He to remembrance bring,
And expose to public view,
Every work and secret thing,
Ah, my soul, what canst thou do?

When the list shall be produced
Of the talents I enjoyed;
Means and mercies, how abused!
Time and strength, how misemployed!

Conscience then, compelled to read,
Must allow the charge is true;
Say, my soul, what canst thou plead
In that hour, what wilt thou do?

But the book of life I see,
May my name be written there!
Then from guilt and danger free,
Glad I�ll meet Him in the air:

That�s the book I hope to plead,
�Tis the Gospel opened wide;
Lord, I am a wretch indeed!
I have sinned, but Thou hast died.

Now my soul knows what to do;
Thus I shall with boldness stand,
Numbered with the faithful few,
Owned and saved, at Thy right hand:

If Thou help a foolish worm
To believe Thy promise now;
Justice will at last confirm
What Thy mercy wrought below.