The Psalms of David ‎#91

91. The Last Judgment

1 The Lord, the Sov'reign, sends his Summons forth,
Calls the South Nations, and awakes the North;
From East to West the sounding Orders spread,
Thro' distant Worlds and Regions of the Dead:
No more shall Atheists mock his long Delay;
His vengeance sleeps no more: Behold the Day.

2 Behold the Judge descends; his Guards are nigh;
Tempest and Fire attend him down the Sky:
Heav'n, Earth, and Hell, draw near; let all Things come
To hear his Justice, and the Sinner's Doom;
But gather first my Saints (the Judge commands)
Bring 'em, ye Angels, from their distant Lands.

3 Behold my Cov'nant stands for ever good,
Seal'd by th' eternal Sacrifice in Blood,
And sign'd with all their Names; the Greek, the Jew,
That paid the ancient Worship or the new,
There's no Distinction here; come, spread their Thrones,
And near me seat my Fav'rites and my Sons.

4 I their Almighty Saviour and their GOD,
I am their Judge; ye Heav'ns, proclaim abroad
My just eternal Sentence, and declare
Those awful Truths that Sinners dread to hear;
Sinners in Zion, tremble and retire;
I doom the painted Hypocrite to Fire.

5 Not for the Want of Goats or Bullocks slain
Do I condemn thee; Bulls and Goats are vain
Without the Flames of Love; In vain the Store
Of brutal Off'rings that were mine before;
Mine are the tamer Beasts and savage Breed,
Flocks, Herds, and Fields and Forests where they feed.

6 If I were hungry, wou'd I ask thee Food?
When did I thirst, or drink thy Bullocks Blood?
Can I be flatter'd with thy cringing Bows,
Thy solemn Chatt'rings and fantastick Vows;
Are my Eyes charm'd thy Vestments to behold?
Glaring in Gems, and gay in woven Gold?

7 Unthinking Wretch! how could'st thou hope to please,
A GOD, a Spirit, with such Toys as these;
While with my Grace & Statutes on thy Tongue,
Thou lov'st Deceit, and dost thy Brother wrong,
In vain to pious Forms thy Zeal pretends,
Thieves and Adult'rers are thy chosen Friends.

8 Silent I waited with long-suffEring Love,
But didst thou hope that I should ne'er reprove?
And cherish such an impious thought within?
That GOD the Righteous, would indulge thy Sin?
Behold my Terrors now; my Thunders roll,
And thy own Crimes affright thy guilty Soul.

9 Sinners, awake betimes; ye Fools, be wise;
Awake before this dreadful Morning rise;
Change your vain Thoughts, your crooked Works amend;
Fly to the Saviour, make the Judge your Friend;
Lest like a Lion, his last Vengeance tear
Your trembling Souls, and no Deliv'rer near.

Text Information

• First Line: The Lord the Sov'reign, sends his Summons forth
• Title: The Last Judgment
• Meter: To a new Tune
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1740
• Scripture:
  Psalm 50
• Topic: Formal worship; God: the judge; Hypocrites and hypocrisy; Judgment Day; Obedience: better than sacrifice; Profession: false; Saints: Reward at last; Sin of Tongue
• Notes: Now Public Domain.

Tune Information

(No tune information)