John in Vision Saw the Day

The great tribunal by John Newton


 * John in vision saw the day
 * When the Judge will hasten down;
 * Heav’n and earth shall flee away
 * From the terror of His frown:


 * Dead and living, small and great,
 * Raised from the earth and sea;
 * At His bar shall hear their fate,
 * What will then become of me?


 * Can I bear His awful looks?
 * Shall I stand in judgment then,
 * When I see the opened books,
 * Written by th’ Almighty’s pen?


 * If He to remembrance bring,
 * And expose to public view,
 * Every work and secret thing,
 * Ah, my soul, what canst thou do?


 * When the list shall be produced
 * Of the talents I enjoyed;
 * Means and mercies, how abused!
 * Time and strength, how misemployed!


 * Conscience then, compelled to read,
 * Must allow the charge is true;
 * Say, my soul, what canst thou plead
 * In that hour, what wilt thou do?


 * But the book of life I see,
 * May my name be written there!
 * Then from guilt and danger free,
 * Glad I’ll meet Him in the air:


 * That’s the book I hope to plead,
 * ’Tis the Gospel opened wide;
 * Lord, I am a wretch indeed!
 * I have sinned, but Thou hast died.


 * Now my soul knows what to do;
 * Thus I shall with boldness stand,
 * Numbered with the faithful few,
 * Owned and saved, at Thy right hand:


 * If Thou help a foolish worm
 * To believe Thy promise now;
 * Justice will at last confirm
 * What Thy mercy wrought below.