CXLVIII. TEKEL; or The Sinner weighed in GOD's Balances, and found wanting.

RAISE, thoughtless Sinner, raise thine Eye;
Behold GOD's Balance lifted high;
There shall his Justice be display'd,
And there thy Hope and Life be weigh'd.

See in one Scale his perfect Law;
Mark with what Force its Precepts draw:
Wouldst thou the awful Test sustain,
Thy Works how light! thy Thoughts how vain!

Behold the Hand of GOD appears
To trace these dreadful Characters;
"Tekel, thy Soul is wanting found,
"And Wrath shall smite thee to the Ground".

Let sudden Fear thy Nerves unbrace;
Let Horror shake thy tott'ring Knees ;
Thro' all thy Thoughts let Anguish roll,
And deep Repentance melt thy Soul.

One only Hope may yet prevail;
Christ hath a Weight to turn the Scale;
Still doth the Gospel publish Peace,
And shew a Saviour's Righteousness.

Great GOD, exert thy Pow'r to save;
Deep on the Heart these Truths engrave;
The pond'rous Load of Guilt remove,
That trembling Lips may sing thy Love.