Awake, Our Souls, Behold How Nigh

Awake

our souls

be­hold how nigh

The day

when from their bas­es hurled

The hills and mount­ains mol­der­ing lie

And venge­ful flames con­sume the world.

The ocean’s trou­bled waves as­cend

In streams

and leave the burn­ing shore;

The so­lid earth con­vul­sions rend

And skies and stars are seen no more.

Chaos again as­sumes its seat

And dark­ness fills its an­cient throne;

In wild dis­or­der

at­oms meet

And na­ture dies with aw­ful groan.

But Je­sus lives when na­ture dies

His love sur­vives sin’s wrecks and spoils;

Pleased with the change

His saints arise

And view be­low their fin­ished toils.

When sin­ners’ hopes ab­ort­ive prove

And with the world their joys ex­pire

Then shall we sing un­chang­ing love

And ev­er feel the sacr­ed fire.