The World Is Very Evil

The world is very ev­il

The times are wax­ing late

Be so­ber and keep vi­gil

The Judge is at the gate.

The Judge who comes in mer­cy

The Judge who comes in might

Who comes to end the ev­il

Who comes to crown the right.

Arise

arise

good Christ­ian

Let right to wrong suc­ceed;

Let pe­ni­ten­tial sor­row

To heav­en­ly glad­ness lead

To light that has no ev­en­ing

That knows nor moon nor sun

The light so new and gold­en

The light that is but one.

O home of fade­less splen­dor

Of flow­ers that bear no thorn

Where they shall dwell as child­ren

Who here as ex­iles mourn;

’Midst pow­er that knows no lim­its

Where wis­dom has no bound

The bea­ti­fic vi­sion

Shall glad the saints around.

The peace that is for Heav­en

And shall be too for earth

The pal­ace that re-ech­oes

With fes­tal song and mirth;

The gar­den breath­ing spic­es

The para­dise on high;

Grace beau­ti­fied to glo­ry

Unceasing min­strel­sy.

O hap­py

ho­ly por­tion

Reflection for the blest

True vi­sion of true beau­ty

True cure of the dis­tressed!

Strive

man

to win that glo­ry;

Toil

man

to gain that light;

Send hope be­fore to grasp it

Till hope be lost in sight.

O sweet and bless­èd coun­try

The home of God’s elect!

O sweet and bless­èd coun­try

That eag­er hearts ex­pect!

Jesu

in mer­cy bring us

To that dear land of rest;

Who art with God the Fa­ther

And Spir­it

ev­er blest.