Coming, coming, coming! Who?
Christ, the Lord of life and glory,
He who once for me and you
Died!—oh, depth of sin’s sad story!
Coming, not a helpless stranger,
Cradled in the friendless manger;
Coming, Lord of earth and heaven!
King! to whom all power is given,
Judge! at whose all-searching bar
All must stand, just what they are;
And the wicked tell with shame,
Why they’ve cursed his holy name. Coming, coming, coming! How?
Clothed in strange unearthly splendor,
Glory men ne’er dream of now,
Grandeur earth ne’er had attend her,
At his sight the heavens shall wither,
From his presence earth shall flee
Islands move, and mountains thither
Seek the caverns of the sea.
Every eye shall then behold him,
All the nations feel his ire;
While the brightness that enfolds him,
Is to them consuming fire.
Thunders all the earth shall thrill,
All the heavens with lightnings blaze,
And the universe stand still,
While through all its realms is heard
That profound ominous word,
Which to life the dead shall raise. Coming, coming, coming! Why?
To redeem his purchased treasure,
All his saints o’er sin who sigh,
All who make his will their pleasure;
To bring back within their borders
His, whom Hades holds to-day;
To arrest sin’s wild disorders,
And the monster, death, to slay.
Coming to fulfill his plan,
Make his oath and promise good,
Which secures repentant man
Life eternal through his blood. Coming, coming, coming! When?
Ah! that question, solemn, thrilling!
For when He appeareth, then
All these earthly scenes, fulfilling
His sure word, shall have an end.
And behold the day is near!
Signs in heaven and earth portend
That the Lord will soon appear.
Angry thrones, through wars, proclaim it,
Scoffers by their scoffing name it;
And the mute and solemn sky
Has hung forth its prophecy. Coming! while we wait and dally;
Coming! while we sleep and sin:
Swift as light o’er hill and valley,
That great day is coming in.
Sinner, rouse thee to thy fate!
Saint, be watchful at thy gate!
Saviour, make us meet t’appear
At thy coming, now so near.