The Second Coming

The saints, whose names fill Heaven's roll,
Their ardent praises e'er outpour,
Yet all await the sev'n-sealed scroll.
And silence great doth still their roar
As now is giv'n the Lamb His right;
He wicked husbandmen doth send
His wrath in searing pain and fright,
With flame and plague the earth doth rend.

On steed of white descendeth He,
Fire in His eyes, His words a sword!
When His dread Holiness they see,
All nations own Him as their Lord
Too late; He judgeth them in might,
The earth doth raze and form anew,
Doth bring Jerus'lem down in light,
And reigneth there, fore'er in view!

—9/4/2010? On Rev 4-22. To “Jerusalem (Parry)” (“And did those feet, in ancient time”).

Election

Sinful and wretched one, what canst thou glory,
Who, for thy sin, stoodest justly condemned,
But that the Lord, ere Creation, foreknew thee,
Did for thy guilt His atonement send?

Though thou despised Him, yet did He save thee:
'Twas not of thee nor of deeds thou hadst done;
Great is His grace, and He gave it thee freely,
Cleansed thee of wickedness, made thee son.

Kept of the Blessed One, what can destroy thee?
Who thine adoption shall render it null?
Thou hast been sealed of the Lord, unto glory;
Thou of His Spirit hast been made full.

Worm that a son wast made, that shalt thou glory!
Boast in thy Father's unfath'mable love!
Speak to the world His immeas'rable mercy;
Bid men pray God wrath and sin remove.

—8/8/2010. To “Russian Hymn.”

A Prayer for Daily Strength

Today, dear Lord, Thy strength bestow,
For I am weak and full of sin.
Subdue my pride; rein in my lusts,
And mold my will till it is Thine.

Today, dear Lord, forgiveness grant,
For I Thy Law have oft disdained.
Ashamed, I venture near the throne,
And kneeling, beg for grace again.

Today, dear Lord, deliver me
And save me from the tempter's lure.
For ev'ry trial that I meet
Please give me power to endure.

Today, dear Lord, Thy favor show
And satisfy my ev'ry need.
And grant that I may prove to all
Thy love, with loving word and deed.

Today, dear Lord, Thy truth impart,
For Thou alone art wholly true.
Remove all falseness from my heart
And teach me what is right anew.

—20 June 2010. To “Hesperus (Quebec)” or “Tallis' Canon.”

May the Mind of Christ, the Humble

May the mind of Christ, the humble,
Teach me servitude afresh.
He, though God, Himself did empty,
Taking human flesh.

May the will of Christ, submissive,
Supersede and swallow mine.
He, though anguished, prayed the Father,
“Not my will but Thine.”

May the death of Christ, the lowly,
Keep my soul in awe employed.
He endured that earthly shaming
For His Heav'nly joy.

May the life of Christ, the risen,
Make me live, though I should die.
Raised in glory, now He sitteth
At the Father's side.

May the hope of Christ's returning
Spur me on to do His Will,
That, when He shall judge the nations,
I'll be faithful still.

—6-7 June 2010. To “St Leonards” (“May the mind of Christ, my Savior”).