From an early Advent Review:
I was much surprised some time since, when looking over a late collection of hymns, on reading one on the coming of the Lord. It was written 144 years ago. How much it sounds like those enlivening songs of our Second Advent brethren, by which they produced such tremendous effects in 1844. Hear it:
Thus saith the church’s Head
The judge of quick and dead;
Quickly I come:
Let my redeemed pray,
O Lord, make no delay;
Thus all my saints shall say,
Lord, quickly come.
Let them with one accord,
Shout their returning Lord;
Welcome him near:
Soon shall he come again,
Soon shall we with him reign,
Soon shall his foes be slain,
Soon he’ll appear.
Earthquakes and storms attend,
Rocks, hills and mountains rend;
Who shall abide?
Heavens melt and thunders roar,
Seas swell and rend the shore;
Hope sinks to rise no more;
Rocks cannot hide.
See how the lightnings blaze;
Jesus his wrath displays;
Vengeance appears:
Lift up your heads on high
You suffering company,
Now your redemption’s nigh,
Banish your fears.
Jesus who died for sins,
Now in his glory reigns:
Claiming his own:
Father, I will, saith he,
Those thou hast given me,
Should all my glory see;
Sharing my throne.
Let the redeemed throng,
Make sovereign grace their song;
Mercy adore:
Ascribing salvation
To him who fills the throne,
And to the Lamb alone,
Forevermore.
– W.W.E. (?)
