Why Sleep We, My Brethren?

Why sleep we

my breth­ren? Come

let us arise

O

why should we slum­ber in sight of the prize?

Salvation is near­er

our days are far spent

O

let us be ac­tive; awake! and re­pent.

O

how can we slum­ber! The Mas­ter is come

And call­ing on sin­ners to seek them a home;

The Spir­it and Bride now in con­cert unite

The wea­ry they wel­come

the care­less in­vite.

O

how can we slum­ber! Our foes are awake;

To ru­in poor souls ev­ery ef­fort they make;

T’ac­comp­lish their obj­ect no means are un­tried

The care­less they com­fort

the wake­ful mis­guide.

O

how can we slum­ber! When so much was done

To pur­chase sal­va­tion by Je­sus the Son!

Now mer­cy is prof­fered

and jus­tice dis­played

Now God can be hon­ored

and sin­ners be saved.

O

how can we slum­ber! when death is so near

And sin­ners are sink­ing to end­less des­pair;

Now pray­ers may avail

and they gain the high prize

Before they in tor­ment shall lift up their eyes.

O

how can ye slum­ber! Ye sin­ners

look round

Before the last trum­pet your hearts shall con­found;

O

fly to the Sav­ior

He calls you to­day;

Where mer­cy is wait­ing

O make no de­lay.