Watch and pray, that you enter not into temptation.
Matthew 26:41
Words: Epiphanius Wilson, in The Academic Hymnal (NewYork: G. Schirmer, 1899), number 336.
Music: Straf mich nicht Hundert Arien (Dresden, Germany: 1694) (🔊 pdf nwc).
If you know where to get a good photo of Wilson (head & shoulders, at least 200×300 pixels),
Up, my soul, and watch and pray,
See thy lamp be burning!
Sudenly the dreadful day
Comes with Christ returning.
Saints may fail, at the last,
Though the world be sleeping,
Thou thy watch be keeping.
Linger not in idle dreams;
Up! from sin awaken;
Lest by morning’s sudden beams
Thou be overtaken.
Judgment morn, morn of doom,
Brings thy condemnation,
Or thy soul’s salvation.
Strive the world, the hosts of sin,
’Neath their yoke infernal,
Thee and all the saints to win—
Heirs of life eternal.
Watch and pray! turn to God
From the world’s deceiving,
In His grace believing.
Tireless watch, and tireless pray,
Ask of God, the Giver,
That from sloth by night and day
He thy life deliver;
’Tis His grace, gives thee power,
Sin and pleasure scorning,
To await the morning.