Let hearts feast on holiness bright,
On joy in the Lord, both now and in light,
Not terror alone of eternal flame—
Yet truth neglected is still our shame.
For thousands slumber, lulled by lies,
By preaching that pleases polite ears and sighs,
Yet leaves them lost, unawakened still,
Unwarned of God’s unbending will.
Somebody must bear this blame—
For all God’s Word is one and the same.
We dare not silence what He has said,
Though carnal minds find it dread.
Oh, Christendom, awake and see:
Alongside promises, sing warning’s plea—
A mighty work might yet arise
If we teach the truth, though it terrifies.
Stop, poor sinner, stop and think,
Before you farther go;
Will you wait upon the brink
Of everlasting woe?
On the verge of ruin stop,
Now the friendly warning take—
Stay your footsteps, ere you drop
Into the burning lake.
Though your heart were made of steel,
Your forehead lined with brass;
God at length will make you feel,
He will not let you pass.
Sinners then in vain will call,
Those who now despise His grace,
“Rocks and mountains on us fall,
And hide us from Thy face.”
So let us stand, though the world may scoff,
And teach the Word in full, not soft—
For only truth, both stern and sweet,
Will bring the sinner to Jesus’ feet.
Footnotes: 1
- These poems are based on a Anabaptist theologian book written by Kauffman over 125 years ago. “Manual of Bible Doctrines ” Mennonite Publishing Co. The purpose is to cause to relook at material once written and cause us to reflect in Christ teaching ↩︎
