Brethren, the End Is Near

Brethren

the end is near

Our Lord shall soon ap­pear:

These the days of ven­geance be

Rumored ills the land dis­tress;

Wars on wars ye hear and see

Ushering in the Prince of Peace.

His judg­ments are abroad

Forerunners of our God;

Nation against na­tion fights

Kingdoms against king­doms rise;

Signs above

and fear­ful sights

Speak the an­ger of the skies.

The pow’rs of Heav’n He shakes;

Earth to her cen­ter quakes;

Famine shows her mea­ger face;

Pestilence stalks close be­hind;

Woes sur­round the sin­ful race;

Wrath abides on all man­kind.

The nations are dis­tressed

The wick­ed can­not rest;

No

in sin they sleep no more

Tossed with sad per­plex­ity;

Swell the waves

and work

and roar

Men are like the trou­bled sea.

Terror their heart as­sails

Their heart through ter­ror fails;

Fails

o’er­whelm­ed with huge dis­may

Looking for the plagues to come

Shrinking from their ev­il day

Fainting at their in­stant doom.

But ye that fear the Lord

Fear nei­ther plague nor sword;

Jesus bids your care de­part

Ye in Je­sus’ love are blest;

Sprinkled is your peace­ful heart:

Now ex­pect the per­fect rest.

These threat­en­ing clouds look through

Good they por­tend to you:

Lift your heads

with joy look up

Find your full re­demp­tion near;

See your soul’s de­sire and hope

See your glo­ri­ous Lord ap­pear.

His near ap­proach ye know

Treated like Him be­low;

This the Word that Je­sus said

Now your Mas­ter’s lot ye find

Mocked

re­ject­ed and be­trayed

Hated now by all man­kind.

In calm and qui­et peace

Your pa­tient souls pos­sess;

God hath kept your in­no­cence

God shall still His own de­fend;

Rest in Him

your sure de­fense

Suffer on

and wait the end.

His mer­cy’s wings are spread

To guard your nak­ed head;

None can hurt you now

or grieve

Hated though ye be by all:

No

with­out your Sav­ior’s leave

Not one sac­red hair shall fall.