_O Dearest, Dread, most glorious King!_ _I’ll of thy justest Judgments sing:_ _Do thou my head and heart inspire,_ _To Sing aright, as I desire._ _Thee, thee alone I’ll invocate,_ _For I do much abominate_ _To call the Muses to mine aid:_ _Which is th’ Unchristian use and trade_ _Of some that Christians would be thought,_ _And yet they worship worse than naught._ _Oh! what a deal of Blasphemy_ _And Heathenish Impiety_ _In Christian Poets may be found,_ _Where Heathen gods with praise are crown’d!_ _They make Jehovah to stand by_ _Till Juno, Venus, Mercury,_ _With frowning Mars, and thund’ring Jove,_ _Rule Earth below, and Heav’n ahove._ _But I have learn’d to pray to none,_ _Save unto God in Christ alone._ _Nor will I laud, no, not in jest,_ _That which I know God doth detest._ _I reckon it a damning evil._ _To give God’s Praises to the Devil._ _Thou, Christ, art he to whom I pray;_ _Thy Glory fain I would display._ _Oh! guide me by thy sacred Sprite,_ _So to indite, and so to write._ _That I thine holy Name may praise._ _And teach the Sons of Men thy ways._ The Day of Doom _The security of the world before Christ’s coming to judgment._ I. [1] Still was the night, serene and bright,   when all Men sleeping lay; Calm was the season, and carnal reason   thought so ’twould last for aye. “Soul, take thine ease, let sorrow cease;   much good thou hast in store:“ This was their Song, their Cups among,   the evening before. II. [2] Wallowing in all kind of Sin,   vile Wretches lay secure; The best of men had scarcely then   their Lamps kept in good ure. Virgins unwise, who through disguise   amongst the best were number’d, Had clos’d their eyes; yea, and the Wise   through sloth and frailty slumber’d. III. [3] Like as of old, when men grew bold,   God’s threat’nings to contemn. Who stopt their Ear, and would not hear   when Mercy warnéd them, But took their course, without remorse,   till God began to pour Destructi-on the World upon,   in a tempestuous show’r; IV. [4] Who put away the evil day,   and drown’d their cares and fears, Till drown’d were they, and swept away   by vengeance unawares; So at the last, whilst men sleep fast   in their security, Surpris’d they are in such a snare   As Cometh suddenly. _The suddenness, Majesty and Terror of Christ’s appearing._ V. [5] For at midnight breaks forth a light,   which turns the night to day, And speedily an hideous cry   doth all the World dismay. Sinners awake, their hearts do ache,   trembling their loins surpriseth; Amaz’d with fear, by what they hear,   each one of them ariseth. VI. [6] They rush from beds with giddy heads,   and to their windows run. Viewing this light, which shines more bright   than doth the noon-day Sun. Straightway appears (they see’t with tears)   the Son of God most dread, Who with his Train comes on amain   to judge both Quick and Dead. VII. [7]