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
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 >
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