Thanks for being a Hymnary.org user. You are one of more than 10 million people from 200-plus countries around the world who have benefitted from the Hymnary website in 2024! If you feel moved to support our work today with a gift of any amount and a word of encouragement, we would be grateful.

You can donate online at our secure giving site.

Or, if you'd like to make a gift by check, please make it out to CCEL and mail it to:
Christian Classics Ethereal Library, 3201 Burton Street SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546
And may the promise of Advent be yours this day and always.

Are You Ready?

Should the summons, quickly flying

Author: Mary D. James
Tune: [Should the summons, quickly flying]
Published in 31 hymnals

Printable scores: PDF, Noteworthy Composer
Audio files: MIDI

Representative Text

1 Should the summons, quickly flying,
On the slumb’ring nations fall,--
Lo! the Heav'nly Bridegroom cometh,
Would the sound your souls appal?

Chorus:
Are you ready? Are you ready?
Should you hear the midnight call?
Are you ready? Are you ready?
Should you hear the midnight call?

2 What if now the startling mandate
Should the sleeping virgins hear,--
Are your lamps all trimmed and burning?
Should the Bridegroom now appear?

Chorus:
Are you ready? Are you ready?
Now to see your Lord appear!
Are you ready? Are you ready?
Now to see your Lord appear?

3 Is there oil in all your vessels?
Are your garments pure and white?
Are they washed in the cleansing Fountain,
Fit to stand in Jesus' sight?

Chorus:
Are you ready? Are you ready?
Are your lamps all clear and bright?
Are you ready? Are you ready?
Are your lamps all clear and bright?

4 Rise! ye virgins,--sleep no longer,--
Lest the call your souls surprise!
Lest ye fail to meet the Bridegroom,
When he cometh from the skies.

Chorus:
Oh, be ready! Oh, be ready!
When he cometh from the skies;
Oh, be ready! Oh, be ready!
Hasten, from your slumbers rise!


Source: Living Hymns: for use in the Sabbath School, Christian Endeavor Meetings, the church & home #59

Author: Mary D. James

Mary Dagworthy Yard James USA 1810-1883. Born at Trenton, NJ, she began teaching Sunday school at age 13 in the Methodist Episcopal Church. She married Henry B James, and they had four children: Joseph, Mary, Ann, and Charles.. She became a prominent figure in the Wesleyan Holiness movement of the early 1800s, assisting Phoebe Palmer (also a hymnist) and often leading meetings at Ocean Grove, NJ, and elsewhere. She wrote articles that appeared in the “Guide to holiness”, “The New York Christian advocate”, “The contributor”, “The Christian witness:, “The Christian woman”, “The Christian standard”, and the “Ocean Grove record”. She wrote a biography of Edmund J Yard entitled, “The soul winner” (1883). She… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Should the summons, quickly flying
Title: Are You Ready?
Author: Mary D. James
Language: English
Refrain First Line: Are you ready
Copyright: Public Domain

Timeline

Media

Instances

Instances (1 - 1 of 1)
TextScoreAudio

The Cyber Hymnal #8120

Include 30 pre-1979 instances
Suggestions or corrections? Contact us
It looks like you are using an ad-blocker. Ad revenue helps keep us running. Please consider white-listing Hymnary.org or getting Hymnary Pro to eliminate ads entirely and help support Hymnary.org.