The Judgment Day I

That shall befall,
that water shall flow,
flood, over earth ;
life shall be at end
to every one.
Oft may he who will,
in his own mind,
soothly think,
that for him hath interceded here
our Lord,
on that greatest day,
highest of mighty kings.
Then will burn,
the Lord of mankind
the land with flame.
That is no little council
to be held :
heat shall be kindled
after fire seizeth
earth's regions,
burning flame
the bright creation,
all this spacious ground shall be
fill'd with the glowing embers
of the fierce brands,
which ferocious men
now rule ;
arrogantly they gain riches
for their lord,
falsehood cultivate,
till that them deceive
the guardians of sins,
so that they with the multitude
seek hell,
flee with the fiends.
Before them shall be fire,
sad punishment :
there day never shines
bright from air,
but ever it stands shut,
since for the spirit's horror
it hath been assign'd.
Narrow it is above,
and it within is hot ;
that is no goodly dwelling,
but there is of terrors deepest,
not a joyous home,
but there is hell's abyss,
a painful journey
to him who kin full oft
betrayeth with his mouth :
he knows not the dark creation,
how it without end
ever stands
for him who for his sins
shall be made sink therein,
and then for evermore
strife shall endure.
But who is so provident,
or so much knows
that he ever may heaven's
glories relate,
so readily that God's portion,
as it stands prepar'd
for clean hearts,
for those who this lay will
dread thus solemn.
The day shall be,
that we bear forth
our every sin,
habits and thoughts :
that will be a vast meeting,
an unhappy host.
Heat shall be cool'd :
then shall not be in this world
save water's roar,
* * *
the fishes home.
Here shall be nor bones nor blood,
but shall every child of man,
with body and with soul
the reward partake
of all that we on earth
ere wrought,
of good or evil.
Not any horror may
be greater
* * *
after the world,
and it is widely known.
Here shall no star shine forth,
but glory shall be departed,
the joys of earth :
therefore I ever will
people teach,
that they God's praise
exalt in the heavens,
in glory to the Highest ;
live in belief,
and ever the Lord's love
work in this world,
ere that the awful day
proclaim through trumpet
the hot burning flame,
terror o'er the multitude.
The glory of no man shall be
longer in this life,
after that light's Guardian,
over all earth's bosom,
shall fire have sent.
Gleam shall the power of air,
flame shall hasten,
pale-burning ;
bloodshed shall be
announced to many,
the anger of the mighty King ;
tremble shall all the bright creation,
brands shall play
on that awful day ;
heaven above shall resound,
when men and women
the world resign,
the miseries of earth ;
then on eternity they shall look,
then shall be made known
who of uncleanness
lived a life,
to them reward shall be prepar'd.
Joy was aye in heaven,
when our Saviour was,
mid-earth's Creator,
throughout the vast creation,
on the foul-pale tree
fast bound
with dire bond.
Christ knoweth all
good deeds ;
therefore may not vaunt
the sinful soul,
that to it is heaven toward,
when he full oft traduceth
holy lore,
draweth it into derision.
He knoweth not the portion of terror,
the sense of evil,
ere it on him falls.
He it then perceives,
when the peril comes
over mid-earth,
to many shall make known,
that he shall be in that sinister band
worse separated,
than when he on the right hand
might retire,
from sins redeem'd.
Little that thinketh
he who glad with wine
his desires enjoys,
sits with feasting wanton,
his lot bewails not,
how to him after this world
it may be.

Will then requite
the Lord of spirits
willingly after death,
the Prince of glory,
him who of his sins now
with pain thinketh,
mental affliction
great suffereth ;
him that then will repay
the Lord of life,
Guardian of heaven,
after departure hence,
with benefits ;
for that he was so sad,
sorry for his sins.
He must not be too inert,
nor in these precepts too slow,
who with God will live,
enjoy the dwelling-place
which the bright Father
prepareth for us,
the Prince of spirits.
That is the Lord of triumph
who this hall adorneth,
buildeth splendidly ;
thither shall the pure,
the stainless, go,
as the Powerful spake,
of all kings King.
Therefore each living
meditative man
will the Lord obey,
who will heaven's
heights ascend ;
yet that shall take place,
though it with dust be cover'd,
the body with clay,
that it shall life receive,
soul after this earth ;
mankind shall be summon'd,
the sons of Adam,
all to the tribunal :
then shall be gather'd
soul and body,
collected at that time :
that will the truth make known,
when we meet together,
on that greatest day,
men at the cross.
Will say then many judgments,
all as it under heaven took place,
of hot and cold,
of good or evil ;
earnestly will hear
of heaven-kings the Highest,
men's deeds ;
never so loudly
horn is wound,
nor trumpet blown,
that the clear voice be not,
over all mid-earth,
louder to men,
the Powerful's words.
The plains shall tremble
for the message,
which he to us all will announce,
shall echo now this saying :
manifest shall become
what I may not say
* * *
* * *
fate under heaven ;
but it thus shall befall
every people,
over all the bright habitations,
burning flame ;
then, after the flame,
life shall be confirmed,
weal shall have in glory
he who now well thinketh.