Scripture Verse

The night cometh. John 9:4

Introduction

portrait
Horatius Bonar (1808–1889)

Words: Ho­ra­ti­us Bo­nar, Songs for the Wil­der­ness 1844.

Music: Cu­per­ti­no T. R. Bow­den, 1899 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tune:

If you know Bow­den’s full name, or where to get a good pho­to of him (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

Time’s sun is fast setting,
Its twilight is nigh,
Its evening is falling
In cloud o’er the sky,
Its shadows are stretching
In ominous gloom;
Its midnight approaches,
The midnight of doom.

Refrain

Then haste, sinner, haste,
There is mercy for thee,
And wrath is preparing—
Flee, lingerer, flee!

Rides forth the fierce tempest
On the wing of the cloud;
The moan of the night-blast
Is fitful and loud;
The mountains are heaving,
The forests are bowed,
The ocean is surging,
Earth gathers its shroud.

Refrain

The vision is nearing—
The Judge and the throne!
The voice of the angel
Proclaims, It is done.
On the whirl of the tempest
Its ruler shall come,
And the blaze of His glo­ry
Flash out from its gloom.

Refrain

With clouds He is coming!
His people shall sing,
With gladness they hail Him
Redeemer and King.
The iron rod wielding
The rod of His ire,
He cometh to kindle
Earth’s last fatal fire!

Refrain