Scripture Verse

Abide in Him; that, when He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. 1 John 2:28

Introduction

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Joseph Addison
(1672–1719)

Words: Jo­seph Ad­di­son, in The Spec­ta­tor, Lon­don, is­sue 512, Oc­to­ber 18, 1712, num­ber 513. The hymn was appended to a letter purporting to have been written by an…excellent man in Holy Orders whom I have mentioned more than once as the one of that society who assist me in my speculations. The concluding words are It is this Series of Thoughts that I have endeavoured to express in the following Hymn, which I have composed during this my Sickness (quoted in Julian, page 17).

Music: Third Mode Me­lo­dy Tho­mas Tal­lis (1505–1585) (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a bet­ter pic­ture of Tal­lis,

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Thomas Tallis (1505–1585)

Lyrics

When ris­ing from the bed of death,
O’erwhelmed with guilt and fear,
I see my mak­er face to face,
O how shall I ap­pear?

If yet, while par­don may be found,
And mer­cy may be sought,
My heart with in­ward hor­ror shrinks,
And trem­bles at the thought;

When Thou, O Lord, shalt stand dis­closed
In ma­jes­ty se­vere,
And sit in judg­ment on my soul,
O how shall I ap­pear?

But Thou hast told the trou­bled mind
Who does her sins la­ment,
The time­ly tri­bute of her tears
Shall end­less woe pre­vent.

Then see the sor­row of my heart,
Ere yet it be too late;
And hear my Sav­ior’s dy­ing groans,
To give those sor­rows weight.

For ne­ver shall my soul des­pair
Her par­don to pro­cure,
Who knows Thine on­ly Son has died
To make her par­don sure.