Sequence.
Day of Wrath!— that dreadful day
Shall the earth in ashes lay,
David and the Sibyl say.
Oh, the trembling that shall be.
When the world its Judge shall see
Come for strictest scrutiny!
Then the trump, with thrilling tone,
From the tombs of ages gone,
All shall cite before the throne.
Death and Time it shall appal.
When shall rise dead creatures all,
Answ’ring to the Judge’s call
Then the Volume shall be spread,
And the writing from it read
Try the living and the dead.
There th’ all-seeing Judge’s ken
Shall review dark deeds of men,
Nought shall go unpunish’d then.
What shall I then, wretched, plead?
Who for me shall intercede,
When the just shall succour need?
King of dreadful majesty,
Who dost save with ransom free:
Fount of Pity, save thou me!
Gracious Jesu, call to mind:
Hast thou Heaven for me resign’d,
Thus to woe to be consign’d?
Thou wert weary seeking me,
Suff’redst for me on the Tree;
Let thy toil not fruitless be!
Judge of justice, spare, I pray;
Cleanse my stains of guilt away,
Ere the awful reck’ning day!
Sighs and groans my sin bespeak,
Guilt is blushing on my cheek;
Thy forgiveness, Lord, I seek.
Thou from sin didst Mary free,
Heardst the robber on the tree,
Hope hast likewise giv’n to me.
Worthless are my prayers, I know;
Yet be gracious, Lord, that so
I may ’scape th’ eternal woe.
Make me with thy sheep to stand,
Of the goats not in the band,
Placing me on thy right hand.
When th’ accurst in anguish flee
Into flames of misery,
With the Blessed call thou me.
