Words: , in The Spec­ta­tor, Oc­to­ber 18, 1712. The hymn was ap­pend­ed to a let­ter pur­port­ing to have been writ­ten by an

…excellent man in Ho­ly Or­ders whom I have men­tioned more than once as the one of that so­ci­e­ty who as­sist me in my spe­cu­la­tions.

The con­clud­ing words are:

It is this Ser­ies of Thoughts that I have en­dea­voured to ex­press in the fol­low­ing Hymn, which I have com­posed dur­ing this my Sick­ness.

Music: Third Mode Mel­o­dy, (1505-1585).


When rising from the bed of death,
O’erwhelmed with guilt and fear,
I see my Maker face to face,
O how shall I appear?

If yet, while pardon may be found,
And mercy may be sought,
My heart with inward horror shrinks,
And trembles at the thought;

When Thou, O Lord, shalt stand disclosed
In majesty severe,
And sit in judgment on my soul,
O how shall I appear?

But Thou hast told the troubled mind
Who does her sins lament,
The timely tribute of her tears
Shall endless woe prevent.

Then see the sorrow of my heart,
Ere yet it be too late;
And hear my Savior’s dying groans,
To give those sorrows weight.

For never shall my soul despair
Her pardon to procure,
Who knows Thine only Son has died
To make her pardon sure.