Let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Hebrews 10:24–25
Words: Philip Doddridge (1702–1751). Published posthumously in Hymns Founded on Various Texts in the Holy Scriptures, by Job Orton (Shropshire, England: Joshua Eddowes & John Cotton, 1755), number 317: The day approaching, a motive to love and worship.
Music: Awful Majesty attributed to Samuel McFarland in The Beauties of Harmony, by Freeman Lewis, 1813. Attributed to Freeman Lewis in Supplement to the Kentucky Harmony, by Ananias Davisson, 1820 (🔊 pdf nwc).
The day approacheth, O my soul,
The great decisive day,
Which from the verge of mortal life
Shall bear thee far away.
Another day more awful dawns;
And lo, the Judge appears;
Ye heav’ns, retire before His face,
And sink, ye darkened stars.
Yet does one short preparing hour,
One precious hour remain;
Rouse thee, my soul, with all thy power,
Nor let it pass in vain.
With me my brethren soon must die,
And at that bar appear:
Now be our intercourse improved
To mutual comfort there.
For this, Thy temple, Lord, we throng;
For this, Thy board surround;
Here may our service be approved,
And in Thy presence crowned.