1 When the fierce north wind, with his airy forces
Rears up the Baltick to a foaming fury:
And the red lightning, with a storm of hail comes,
Rushing amain down.
2 How the poor sailors stand amaz'd and tremble!
While the hoarse thunder like a bloody trumpet,
Roar aloud onset to the gaping waters
Quick to devour them.
3 Such shall the noise be, and the wild disorder,
(If things eternal may be like these earthly)
Such the dire terror when the great arcgangel
Shakes the creation.
4 Tears the strong pillars of the vault of Heaven,
Breaks up old marble, the repose of princes;
See the graves open, and the bones arising.
Flames all around 'em.
5 Hark, the shrill outcries of the guilty wretches!
Lively bright horror, and amazing anguish,
Stare thro' their eye-lids, while the living worm lies
Gnawing within them.
6 Thoughts like old cultures, prey upon their heart strings,
And the smart twinges, when the eye beholds the
Lofty judge frowning, and a flood of vengeance
Rolling afore him.
7 Hopeless immortals! how they scream and shiver,
While devils push them to the pit wide-yawning
Hideous and gloomy, to receive them headlong
Down to the centre.
8 Stop here my fancy, (all away, ye horrid
Doleful ideas) come to JESUS,
How he sits God-like and the saints around him,
Thron'd, yet adoring.
9 O may I sit there when he comes triumphant,
Dooming the nations! then ascend to glory
While our Hosannas all along the passage,
Shout the Redeemer.
Source: A Selection of Psalms and Hymns: done under the appointment of the Philadelphian Association #CCCXLII
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