Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, HYMN CONCERNING THE DAY OF JUDGEMENT, by THOMASIUS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

HYMN CONCERNING THE DAY OF JUDGEMENT, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: As a thief, who falls at midnight on his unsuspecting prey
Last Line: When the master comes, to meet him, bearing with you lamps that burn.
Alternate Author Name(s): Thomasius, Christia
Subject(s): Judgment Day; End Of The World; Doomsday; Fall Of Man


AS a thief, who falls at midnight on his unsuspecting prey,
When we think not shall o'ertake us the Almighty's Judgment Day.
Brief shall seem to men the pleasures that they prized in times of yore,
When they know that as a moment Time hath past, and is no more.
Clanging over Earth's four quarters shall the sudden trumpet-call
Summon unto Christ's tribunal, dead or living, one and all:
Down from highest heaven descended, shining angels hovering near,
Shall the Judge in all the brightness of His majesty appear.
Earth from pole to pole shall tremble, paling stars shall shrink from sight;
And the sun himself be darkened, and the round moon lose her light.
Fire shall execute, unbidden, his all-righteous Lord's decree,
Sky and lands in flame devouring, and the great unfathomed sea.
Glorious shall the King be seated then upon His throne on high,
The attendant choirs of angels standing awed and trembling by:
His elect upon His right hand shall He bid their station take;
While as goats of evil savour on His left the wicked quake.
"Into heavenly mansions enter," to the first shall say the Son,
"Which My Father's love prepared you ere the ages had begun;
Kindly ye did once as brethren succour in His need your Lord;
Of your kindness of aforetime take ye now the rich reward."
"Lord," they shall exclaim, all joyous, "when beheld we thee in need?
When to us didst thou for succour, thou the King most mighty, plead?"
Mark the Judge Almighty's answer: -- "When ye heard the poor man's plea;
Fed, clad, housed him; lo, ye did it in your lowliness to Me."
Next to those upon His left hand the All-Just their doom shall tell:
"Hence ye cursed from My presence to the fiery flames of hell!
Once I craved your ear a beggar, and ye mocked at My hard lot;
I was sick, and ye forsook Me; naked, and ye clothed Me not."
Piteously shall ask the wicked: "Lord, when dealt we with Thee thus?
Sick or poor, when wast Thou mocked at, O most mighty King, by us?"
Quickly shall reply the High One: "When ye scorned the beggar's cry,
Lo, the man whom ye thought scorn of in your wantonness was I."
Reeling back, shall then the wicked sink into the fiery glare,
Where abides the worm that dies not, and the flames are quenched ne'er.
Satan with his servants lieth chained those darksome depths beneath,
Where for ever must the damned weep, and wail, and gnash the teeth.
Then on wings shall mount the faithful, led by many an angelband,
To the realm of joy and gladness, to their heavenly Fatherland:
Upon them in perfect brilliance Light and Peace shall shine; from them
Veiled no more shall be that City, that supreme Jerusalem:
X(t) the King, in all the brightness of His Father's splendour decked,
Face to face shall then be gazed on by the hosts of His elect.
Ye beware then of the Serpent and his wiles: uphold the weak,
Heed not gold, and flee vain pleasures, if the stars ye fain would seek:
Zone with Chastity's pure girdle day by day your loins, and turn,
When the Master comes, to meet Him, bearing with you lamps that burn.





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