Scripture Verse

Prepare to meet thy God. Amos 4:12

Introduction

Words: Su­san­na Har­ris­on, Songs in the Night (Ip­swich, Eng­land: Pun­chard & Jer­myn, 1780), pag­es 83–84.

Music: Waits’ Song Eng­lish tra­di­tion­al tune (🔊 pdf nwc).

Lyrics

My life declines, my strength is gone,
Disease and pains prevail;
Death threatens to arrest me soon,
My heart and flesh doth fail.

Soon must I leave this body here,
Soon must my soul away;
O awful thought—my soul, prepare
For that tremendous day!

Soon must I pass the solemn test,
How soon, my judge can tell!
When He with smiles shall call me blest,
Or frown me down to hell.

O how shall I prepare my heart
Eternal life to gain?
Jesus, Thy grace, Thy strength impart,
Or all I do is vain.

I cannot for one sin atone—
I swell with pride no more:
All the best duties I have done
I’ve reason to deplore.

Jesus, on Thee alone I lean,
Do Thou my soul prepare;
O cleanse my heart from every sin,
And fix Thy dwelling there.

Renewed and justified by grace,
Complete I then shall stand,
Before th’al­migh­ty Fa­ther’s face,
When He my life demand.