When descending from the sky

The foolish virgins by John Newton


 * When descending from the sky
 * The Bridegroom shall appear;
 * And the solemn midnight cry,
 * Shall call professors near:
 * How the sound our hearts will damp!
 * How will shame o’erspread each face!
 * If we only have a lamp,
 * Without the oil of grace.


 * Foolish virgins then will wake
 * And seek for a supply;
 * But in vain the pains they take
 * To borrow or to buy:
 * Then with those they now despise,
 * Earnestly they’ll wish to share;
 * But the best, among the wise,
 * Will have no oil to spare.


 * Wise are they, and truly blest,
 * Who then shall ready be
 * But despair will seize the rest,
 * And dreadful misery:
 * Once, they’ll cry, we scorned to doubt,
 * Though in lies our trust we put;
 * Now our lamp of hope is out,
 * The door of mercy shut.


 * If they then presume to plead,
 * “Lord open to us now;
 * We on earth have heard and prayed,
 * And with thy saints did bow:”
 * He will answer from his throne,
 * “Though you with My people mixed,
 * Yet to Me you ne’er were known,
 * Depart, your doom is fixed.”


 * O that none who worship here
 * May hear that word, Depart!
 * Lord impress a godly fear
 * On each professor’s heart:
 * Help us, Lord, to search the camp,
 * Let us not ourselves beguile;
 * Trusting to a dying lamp
 * Without a stock of oil.