How Many Pass the Guilty Night

How many pass the guil­ty night

In re­vel­ings and fran­tic mirth!

The crea­ture is their sole de­light

Their hap­pi­ness the things of earth;

For us suf­fice the sea­son past;

We choose the bet­ter part at last.

We will not close our wake­ful eyes

We will not let our eye­lids sleep

But hum­bly lift them to the skies

And all a so­lemn vi­gil keep;

So ma­ny years on sin be­stowed

Can we not watch one night for God!

We can

O Je­sus

for Thy sake

Devote our ev­ery hour to Thee;

Speak but the word

our souls shall wake

And sing with cheer­ful me­lo­dy;

Thy praise shall our glad tongues em­ploy

And ev­ery heart shall dance for joy.

O may we all tri­umph­ant rise

With joy up­on our heads re­turn

And far above those ne­ther skies

By Thee on ea­gles’ wings up­borne

Through all yon ra­di­ant cir­cles move

And gain the high­est heav­en of love!