Poem by Isaac Watts

Hymn 52 (Death! 'Tis a melancholy day)

Death dreadful or delightful.

Death! 'Tis a melancholy day
To those that have no God,
When the poor soul is forced away
To seek her last abode.

In vain to heav'n she lifts her eyes,
But guilt, a heavy chain,
Still drags her downward from the skies
To darkness, fire, and pain.

Awake and mourn, ye heirs of hell,
Let stubborn sinners fear,
You must be driv'n from earth, and dwell
A long forever there.

See how the pit gapes wide for you,
And flashes in your face:
And thou, my soul, look downwards too,
And sing recov'ring grace.

He is a God of sovereign love
That promised heav'n to me,
And taught my thoughts to soar above,
Where happy spirits be.

Prepare me, Lord, for thy right hand,
Then come the joyful day,
Come, death, and some celestial band,
To bear my soul away.

1. Psalm 46. Part 1 (God is the refuge of his saints)
2. Hymn 99 (Let the whole race of creatures lie)
3. Psalm 136 (Give thanks to God most high)
4. Psalm 34. Part 1 (Lord, I will bless thee all my days)
5. Hymn 39 (Now shall my inward joys arise)

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