1 Life is the time to serve the Lord,
The time t'insure the great Reward;
And while the Lamp holds out to burn,
The vilest Sinner may return.

[2 Life is the Hour that God has giv'n
To 'scape from Hell and fly to Heav'n;
The Day of Grace, and Mortals may
Secure the Blessings of the Day.]

3 The Living know that they must die,
But all the Dead forgotten lie;
Their Mem'ry and their Sense is gone,
Alike unknowing and unknown.

[4 Their Hatred and their Love is lost,
Their Envy buried in the dust;
They have no share in all that's done
Beneath the Circuit of the sun.]

5 Then what my thoughts design to do,
My Hands with all your Might pursue;
Since no Device, nor Work is found,
Nor Faith, nor Hope, beneath the ground.

6 There are no acts of Pardon past
In the cold Grave, to which we haste;
But Darkness, death, and long Despair,
Reign in eternal Eilence there.