V.

CHRIST RISEN.

"And the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures."

LVIII.

Again the Lord of Life and Light
Awakes the kindling ray,
Unseals the eyelids of the morn,
And pours increasing day.

O what a night was that which wrapt
The heathen world in gloom!
O what a sun, which broke this day
Triumphant from the tomb!

This day be grateful homage paid,
And loud hosannas sung ;
Let gladness dwell in every heart,
And praise on every tongue.

Ten thousand differing lips shall join
To hail this welcome morn,
Which scatters blessings from its wings
To nations yet unborn.

The powers of darkness leagued in vain
To bind His Soul in death;

He shook their kingdom, when He fell,
With His expiring breath.

And now His conquering chariot wheels
Ascend the lofty skies ;

While broke beneath His powerful cross
Death's iron sceptre lies.

Exalted high at God's right hand,

The Lord of all below,

Through Him is pardoning love dispens'd,

And boundless blessings flow.

And still for erring guilty man
A Brother's pity flows;

And still His bleeding heart is touch'd
With memory of our woes.

To Thee, my Saviour and my King,
Glad homage let me give;

And stand prepared like Thee to die,

With Thee that I may live!

Anna Lætitia Barbauld. 1825.

LIX.

Christ the Lord is risen to-day,
Sons of men and angels say:
Raise your joys and triumphs high,
Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply.

Love's redeeming work is done,
Fought the fight, the battle won:
Lo! our Sun's eclipse is o'er ;
Lo! He sets in blood no more.

Vain the stone, the watch, the seal;
Christ hath burst the gates of hell!

Death in vain forbids His rise;
Christ hath open'd Paradise!

Lives again our glorious King:
Where, O Death, is now thy sting?
Once He died, our souls to save:
Where thy victory, O Grave?

Soar we now where Christ has led,
Following our exalted Head;
Made like Him, like Him we rise ;
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies.

What though once we perish'd all,
Partners in our parents' fall?
Second life we all receive,
In our Heavenly Adam live.

Risen with Him, we upward move;
Still we seek the things above;
Still pursue, and kiss the Son
Seated on His Father's Throne.

Scarce on earth a thought bestow,
Dead to all we leave below;
Heav'n our aim, and loved abode,
Hid our life with Christ in God:

Hid, till Christ our Life appear
Glorious in His members here;
Join'd to Him, we then shall shine,
All immortal, all divine.

Hail the Lord of Earth and Heaven!
Praise to Thee by both be given!
Thee we greet triumphant now!
Hail, the Resurrection Thou!

King of glory, Soul of bliss!

Everlasting life is this,

Thee to know, Thy power to prove,

Thus to sing, and thus to love!

Charles Wesley. 1743.

Ad templa nos rursus vocat.

Now morning lifts her dewy veil
With new-born blessings crown'd:

Oh! haste we then her light to hail
In courts of holy ground!

But Christ, triumphant o'er the grave,
Shines more divinely bright:

Oh! sing we then His power to save,
And walk we in His light!

When from the swaddling bands of shade, Sprang forth the world so fair,

In robes of brilliancy arrayed,

Oh, what a Power was there!

When He, who gave His guiltless Son
A guilty world to spare,
Restored to life the Holy One,

Oh, what a Love was there!

When forth from its Creator's hand
The earth in beauty stood,
All decked with light at His command,
He saw, and called it good.

But still more lovely in His sight,
The earth still fairer stood,

When the Holy Lamb had wash'd it white
In His atoning blood.

Still, as the morning rays return,

To the pious soul 'tis given

In fancy's mirror to discern

The radiant domes of Heaven.

But now that our eternal Sun
Hath shed His beams abroad,
In Him we see the Holy One,
And mount at once to God.

F