Scripture Verse

The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Romans 8:18

Introduction

portrait
John Newton (1725–1807)

Words: John New­ton, Ol­ney Hymns (Lon­don: W. Ol­iv­er, 1779), Book 1, num­ber 127. Sal­va­tion draw­ing near­er.

Music: Guide Mar­cus M. Wells, 1858 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tunes:

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Wells (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

Darkness ov­er­spreads us here,
But the night wears fast away;
Jacob’s star will soon ap­pear,
Leading on eter­nal day!
Now ’tis time to rouse from sleep,
Trim our lamps and stand pre­pared;
For our Lord strict watch to keep,
Lest He find us off our guard.

Let His peo­ple cour­age take,
Bear with a sub­miss­ive mind
All they suf­fer for His sake,
Rich amends they soon will find:
He will wipe away their tears,
Near Him­self ap­point their lot;
All their sor­rows, pains and fears,
Quickly then wilt be for­got.

Though al­rea­dy saved, by grace,
From the hour we first be­lieved;
Yet while sin and war have place,
We have but a part re­ceived:
Still we for sal­va­tion wait,
Every hour it near­er comes!
Death will break the pri­son gate,
And ad­mit us to our homes.

Sinners, what can you ex­pect?
You who now the Sav­ior dare;
Break His laws, His grace re­ject,
You must stand be­fore His bar!
Tremble, lest He say, De­part!
Oh, the hor­rors of that sound!
Lord, make ev­ery care­less heart,
Seek Thee while Thou may’st be found.