1

Still was the night, Serene and Bright,
When all Men sleeping lay;
Calm was the season, and carnal reason
Thought so 'twould last for ay
Soul, take thine ease, let sorrow cease,
much good thou has in store:
This was their Song, their Cups among,
the Evening before.

2

Wallowing in all kind of sin,
vile wretches lay secure:
The best of men had scarcely then
their Lamps kept in good ure.
Virgins unwise, who through disguise
amongst the best were number'd,
Had clos'd their eyes; yea, and the wise
through sloth and frailty slumber'd.

3

Like as of old, when Men grow bold
God's threatnings to contemn,
Who stopt their Ear, and would not hear,
when Mercy warned them:
But took their course, without remorse,
till God began to powre
Destruction the World upon
in a tempestuous showre.

4

They put away the evil day,
And drown'd their care and fears,
Till drown'd were they, and swept away
by vengeance unawares:
So at the last, whilst Men sleep fast
in their security,
Surpriz'd they are in such a snare
as cometh suddenly.

5

For at midnight brake forth a Light,
which turn'd the night to day,
And speedily an hideous cry
did all the world dismay
Sinners awake, their hearts do ake,
trembling their loynes surprizeth;
Amaz'd with fear, by what they hear,
each one of them ariseth.

6

They ruch from Beds with giddy heads,
and to their windows run,
Viewing this light, which shines more bright
then doth the Noon-day Sun.
Straightway appears (they see't with tears)
the Son of God most dread;
Who with his Train comes on amain
To Judge both Quick and Dead.

7

Before his face the Heav'ns gave place,
and Skies are rent asunder,
With mighty voice, and hideous noise,
more terrible than Thunder
His brightness damps heav'ns glorious lamps
and makes them hide their heads,
As if afraid and quite dismay'd,
they quit their wonted steads.

8

Ye sons of men that durst contemn
the Threatnings of Gods Word,
How cheer you now? your hearts, I trow,
are thrill'd as with a sword.
Now Atheist blind, whose brutish mind
a God could never see,
Dost thou perceive, dost now believe,
that Christ thy Judge shall be?

9

Stout Courages, (whose hardiness
could Death and Hell out-face)
Are you as bold now you behold
your Judge draw near apace?
They cry, no, no: Alas! and wo!
our Courage all is gone:
Our hardiness (fool hardiness)
hath us undone, undone.

10

No heart so bold, but now grows cold
and almost dead with fear:
No eye so dry; but now can cry,
and pour out many a tear.
Earths Potentates and pow'rful States;
Captains and Men of Might
Are quite abasht, their courage dasht
at this most dreadful sight.