1 The God of glory sends his summons forth,
Calls the south nations and awakes the north;
>From east to west his sovereign orders spread,
Through distant worlds, and regions of the dead
The trumpet sounds; hell trembles, heaven rejoices;
Lift up your heads, ye saints, with cheerful voices.
2 No more shall Atheists mock his long delay;
His vengeance sleeps no more, behold the day!
Behold, the Judge descends; his guards are nigh;
Tempests and fire attend him down the sky!
When God appears, all nature shall adore him;
While sinners tremble, saints rejoice before him.
3 “Heaven, earth, and hell, draw near; let all things come
To hear my justice, and the sinner’s doom;
But gather first my saints,” the Judge commands;
“Bring them, ye angels, from their distant lands.”
When Christ returns, wake every cheerful passion;
And shout, ye saints, he comes for your salvation.
4 “Behold! my covenant stands for ever good,
Sealed by the eternal sacrifice in blood,
And signed with all their names, the Greek, the Jew,
That paid the ancient worship, or the new.”
There’s no distinction here; join all your voices
And raise your heads, ye saints, for heaven rejoices.
5 “Here,” says the Lord, “ye angels, spread their thrones;
And near me seat my favourites, and my sons;
Come, my redeemed, possess the joys prepared
Ere time began – ’tis your divine reward;”
When Christ returns, wake every cheerful passion;
And shout, ye saints, he comes for your salvation.
Source: A Selection of Hymns for Public Worship. In four parts (10th ed.) (Gadsby's Hymns) #497
Isaac Watts was the son of a schoolmaster, and was born in Southampton, July 17, 1674. He is said to have shown remarkable precocity in childhood, beginning the study of Latin, in his fourth year, and writing respectable verses at the age of seven. At the age of sixteen, he went to London to study in the Academy of the Rev. Thomas Rowe, an Independent minister. In 1698, he became assistant minister of the Independent Church, Berry St., London. In 1702, he became pastor. In 1712, he accepted an invitation to visit Sir Thomas Abney, at his residence of Abney Park, and at Sir Thomas' pressing request, made it his home for the remainder of his life. It was a residence most favourable for his health, and for the prosecution of his literary… Go to person page >
My Starred Hymns
My FlexScores
My Hymnals
My Purchased Files