1 When the fierce north wind, with his airy forces,
Rears up the Baltic to a foaming fury,
And the red lightning, with a storm of hail, comes
Rushing amain down.

2 How the poor sailors stand amaz'd and tremble!
While the hoarse thunder like a bloody trumpet,
Roars a loud onset to the gaping waters
Quick to devour them.

3 Such shall the noise be, and the wild disorder,
(If things eternal may be like these earthly)
Such the dire terror when the great Ark angel
Shakes the creation;

4 Tears the strong pillars of the vault of heaven,
Breaks up old marble, the repose of princes;
See the graves open, and the bones arising.
Flames all around them!

5 Hark, the shrill outcries of the guilty wretches!
Lively bright horror, and amazing anguish,
Stare through their eye-lids, while the living worm lies
Gnawing within them.

6 Thoughts, like old Vultures, prey upon their heart-strings,
And the smart twinges, when the eye beholds the
Lofty judge frowning, and a flood of vengeance
Rolling afore him.

7 Hopeless immortals! how they scream and shiver
While devils push them to the pit wide yawning
Hideous and gloomy to receive them head-long
Down to the centre.

8 Stop here, my fancy: (all away, ye horrid
Doleful ideas) come, arise to Jesus,
How he sits God-like! and the saints around him
Thron'd, yet adoring!

9 O may I sit there when he comes triumphant,
Dooming the nations! then ascend to glory,
While our hosannas all along the passage
Shout the redeemer.