The words
Stanza 1. When descending from the skyThe Bridegroom shall appear;And the solemn midnight cry,Shall call professors near:How the sound our hearts will damp!How will shame o’erspread each face!If we only have a lamp,Without the oil of grace.
Stanza 2. Foolish virgins then will wakeAnd seek for a supply;But in vain the pains they takeTo borrow or to buy:Then with those they now despise,Earnestly they’ll wish to share;But the best, among the wise,Will have no oil to spare.
Stanza 3. Wise are they, and truly blest,Who then shall ready beBut despair will seize the rest,And dreadful misery:Once, they’ll cry, we scorned to doubt,Though in lies our trust we put;Now our lamp of hope is out,The door of mercy shut.
Stanza 4. If they then presume to plead,“Lord open to us now;We on earth have heard and prayed,And with thy saints did bow:”He will answer from his throne,“Though you with my people mixed,Yet to me you ne’er were known,Depart, your doom is fixed.”
Stanza 5. O that none who worship hereMay hear that word, Depart!LORD impress a godly fearOn each professor’s heart:Help us, Lord, to search the camp,Let us not ourselves beguile;Trusting to a dying lampWithout a stock of oil.
Olney Hymns (1779), Book 1, Hymn 90. John Newton. Public domain. CCEL transcription with modernized spelling. www.praylock.com/olney-hymns/1-90
