1.

The Lord, th' Almighty Monarch, spake,
And bade the Earth the summons take,
Far as his eyes the realms survey
Of rising and declining day.

2.

Reveal'd from Sion 's sacred bound,
The Seat with matchless beauty crown'd,
Our God his course shall downward bend,
Nor silent to his Work descend.

3.

At his approach the fire shall blaze,
And kindled pour its streaming rays;
Devouring flames shall march before,
And mightiest tempests round him roar.

4.

Heav'n from above shall hear his call,
And Thou, the vast terrestrial Ball!
While Man's whole race their Judge shall meet,
In countless throngs before his Seat.

5.

" My Saints collect from distant Poles,
" Collect the just and faithful Souls,
" With whom my compact firm has stood,
" Seal'd with the spotless Victim's blood. "

6.

Th'applauding Heav'ns the changeless Doom,
While God the balance shall assume,
In full memorial shall record,
And own the Justice of their Lord.

7.

With humblest awe, my People, hear;
For God, thy God, his voice shall rear:
Myself, O Israel , will attest
The guilt that stains thy erring breast.

8.

Though at the Altar's kindled fire
No bleeding Victim should expire,
Not ritual Sacrifice withheld
My theme of just complaint shall yield:

9.

Still let thy Stall the Steer detain,
Still let thy Goat untouch'd remain
Amidst his herd-mates: from thy hands
Nor Goat nor Steer thy Lord demands:

10.

Mine are the Beasts that range the wood,
Mine all the tame or savage Brood
Whose train the Earth's wide pasture fills,
And wanders o'er her thousand hills.

11.

Each fowl, that from its airy flight
Descends upon the mountain's height,
Each brute, that o'er the champaign strays,
My all-observing eye surveys.

12.

Admit, I hunger; shall thy God
Descend from Thee to ask his food,
Lord of the World and all its Store
Thy aid, thou Child of Earth, implore?

13.

Shall Bulls to ease my want be slain,
Or blood of Goats my thirst restrain?
Go, suppliant at my altar bow,
And pay thy thanks, and pay thy vow:

14.

(Be this thy Off'ring:) In thy woes
On Me with stedfast hope repose;
So shall my ear receive thy pray'r;
And, grateful, Thou my mercy share.

15.

Thou Wretch by discipline unaw'd,
(Thus to the Impious speaks my God,)
Thy secret crimes to Me are known;
I see my Laws behind thee thrown:

16.

And Thou, dost Thou with lips profane
The precepts of my will explain,
And, rank'd thyself amid my foes,
My terms of offer'd grace propose?

17.

Say, has the Thief to Thee applied,
And Thou thy wanted aid denied?
Or fail'd th' Adult'rer e'er to see
A partner of his guilt in Thee?

18.

Train'd in each well-dissembled art
To veil the purpose of thine heart,
Thy tongue to fraud has loos'd the reins,
And lye with lye connected feigns.

19.

Hast thou not sat, with cruel aim
Reflecting on a Brother's fame,
And with invented scandal stain'd
Whom erst one womb with Thee contain'd?

20.

While yet my anger I suppress'd
Within the secrets of my breast,
And silent deign'd thy crimes to see,
Thy folly pictur'd Me like Thee:

21.

But soon my op'ning lips shall yield
The just rebuke so long withheld,
And bid, before thy conscious eyes,
Thy guilt in all its horror rise.

22.

Ye Souls forgetful of my fear,
With full regard my dictates hear;
Left, at my word, your life the Grave
Demand, and none be nigh to save.

23.

Who yields the Sacrifice of praise,
His best-accepted homage pays:
Who forms his steps aright, shall know
What Joys from my Salvation flow.