See, When a Black O’erspreading Cloud

See

when a black o’er­spread­ing cloud

[Originally

When a black ov­er­spread­ing cloud]

Has dark­ened all the air;

And peals of thun­der roar­ing loud

Proclaim the tem­pest near.

Then guilt and fear

the fruits of sin

The sin­ner oft pur­sue;

A loud­er storm is heard with­in

And con­science thun­ders too.

The law a fie­ry lang­uage speaks

His dan­ger he per­ceives;

Like Sa­tan

who his ru­in seeks

He trem­bles and be­lieves.

But when the sky se­rene ap­pears

And thun­ders roll no more;

He soon for­gets his vows and fears

Just as he did be­fore.

But whi­ther shall the sin­ner flee

When na­ture’s migh­ty frame

The pon­der­ous earth

and air

and sea

Shall all dis­solve in flame?

Amazing day! it comes apace!

The Judge is hast­ing down!

Will sin­ners bear to see His face

Or stand be­fore His frown?

Lord

let Thy mer­cy find a way

To touch each stub­born heart

That they may nev­er hear Thee say

Ye curs­èd ones

de­part.

Believers

you may well re­joice!

The thun­der’s loud­est strains

Should be to you a wel­come voice

That tells you

JE­SUS REIGNS!