REJOICE, ALL YE BELIEVERS.
Reading edition
Rejoice, all ye believers, And let your lights appear; The evening is advancing, And darker night is near; The Bridegroom is arising, And soon He draweth nigh: Up! pray, and watch, and wrestle! At midnight comes the cry. The watchers on the mountain Proclaim the Bridegroom near; Go meet Him as He cometh, With hallelujahs clear: The marriage feast is waiting, The gates wide-open stand; Up, up, ye heirs of glory! The Bridegroom is at hand. Our hope and expectation, O Jesus, now appear; Arise, thou Sun so longed for O'er this benighted sphere! With heart and hands uplifted, We plead, O Lord, to see The day of earth's redemption, That brings us unto Thee. —Laurenti.