Merton (William H. Monk)

I.
Hark! a thrilling voice is sounding.
"Christ is nigh," it seems to say;
"Cast away the works of darkness,
O ye children of the day."

Startled at the solemn warning,
Let the earth-bound soul arise;
Christ, our Sun, all sloth dispelling,
Shines upon the morning skies.

Lo! the Lamb, so long expected,
Comes with pardon down from heaven;
Let us haste, with tears of sorrow,
One and all, to be forgiven;

So when next He comes with glory,
And the world is wrapped in fear,
May He then as our Defender
On the clouds of heaven appear.

Honor, glory, might and blessing
To the Father and the Son,
With the Everlasting Spirit,
One in Three and Three in One.
Amen.

II.
Where the angel hosts adore Thee,
Thou, O God, in heav’n dost reign;
At Thy word they rose around Thee,
And Thy word doth them sustain.

Thousand times tenthousand, bending
At Thy throne, their hommage pay;
Flames of fire in strength excelling,
Swift Thy pleasure to obey.

Fashioned in a wondrous order,
Thee they serve, their Lord and King;
Grant that in our cares and dangers
They may timely succour bring.

Praise to Thee Who hast created
Earth and heaven with all their host;
Praise to Thee, O God most mighty,
Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
Amen.

III.
1. Lord, a Savior’s love displaying,
Show the heathen lands Thy way;
Thousands still like sheep are straying
In the dark and cloudy day.

2. Shades of death are gathering o’er them,
Lord, they perish from Thy sight!
Let Thine angel go before them;
Bring the Gentiles to Thy Light.

3. Fetch them home from every nation,
From the islands of the sea;
By the word of Thy salvation
Call the wanderers back to Thee.

4. Thou their pasture hast provided,
Grant the blessing long foretold;
Let Thy sheep, divinely guided,
Find at last the one true Fold.
Amen.