4 Neither might the gates of death,
Nor the tomb's dark portal,
Nor the watchers, nor the seal,
Hold thee as a mortal:
But to-day amidst thine own
Thou didst stand, bestowing
That thy peace which evermore
Passeth human knowing. Amen.

St. John of Damascus, 749; Tr. John Mason Neale, 1859

171

7.6.7.6 D.

HE day of resurrection!
Earth, tell it out abroad;

The Passover of gladness,
The Passover of God.
From death to life eternal,

From earth unto the sky,
Our Christ hath brought us over
With hymns of victory.

2 Our hearts be pure from evil,
That we may see aright
The Lord in rays eternal

Of

resurrection-light;

And, listening to his accents,
May hear so calm and plain
His own "All hail," and, hearing,
May raise the victor strain.

3 Now let the heavens be joyful,
Let earth her song begin,
The round world keep high triumph,
And all that is therein;

Let all things seen and unseen
Their notes together blend,
For Christ the Lord is risen,

Our joy that hath no end.

St. John of Damascus, d. 749; Tr. John Mason Neale, 1853

172

J

Four 7's, with alleluia

ESUS CHRIST is risen to-day, Our triumphant holy day, Who did once upon the cross Suffer to redeem our loss.

Alleluia!

2 Hymns of praise then let us sing
Unto Christ, our heavenly King,
Who endured the cross and grave,
Sinners to redeem and save.

Alleluia!

3 But the pains which he endured,
Our salvation have procured;
Now above the sky he's King,
Where the angels ever sing.

Alleluia!

4 Sing we to our God above
Praise eternal as his love;
Praise him, all ye heavenly host,
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Latin, 14th cent.; Tr. Tate and Brady, 1698
St. 4, Charles Wesley

173

8.8.8.4

TH

HE strife is o'er, the battle done,
The victory of life is won;

The song of triumph has begun.

Alleluia!

2 The powers of death have done their worst, But Christ their legions hath dispersed:

Let shout of holy joy outburst.

Alleluia!

3 The three sad days are quickly sped
He rises glorious from the dead:
All glory to our risen Head!

Alleluia!

4 He closed the yawning gates of hell, The bars from heaven's high portals fell; Let hymns of praise his triumphs tell!

Alleluia!

5 Lord! by the stripes which wounded thee, From death's dread sting thy servants free,

That we may live and sing to thee.

174

Co

8.8.6.8.8.6

OME, see the place where Jesus lay,
And hear angelic watchers say,

"He lives, who once was slain:
Why seek the living midst the dead?
Remember how the Saviour said
That he would rise again."

2 O joyful sound! O glorious hour,
When by his own Almighty power
He rose and left the grave!
Now let our songs his triumph tell,
Who burst the bands of death and hell,
And ever lives to save.

3 The First-begotten of the dead, For us he rose, our glorious Head, Immortal life to bring;

What though the saints like him shall die, They share their Leader's victory,

And triumph with their King.

4 No more they tremble at the grave,
For Jesus will their spirits save,
And raise their slumbering dust:
O risen Lord, in thee we live,
To thee our ransomed souls we give,
To thee our bodies trust.

Amen.

Thomas Kelly, 1804. alt.

175

C

Four 7's

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

2 Love's redeeming work is done, Fought the fight, the victory won, Jesus' agony is o'er,

Darkness veils the earth no more.

3 Vain the stone, the watch, the seal,
Christ hath burst the gates of hell;
Death in vain forbids him rise,
Christ hath opened Paradise.

4 Soar we now where Christ hath led,
Following our exalted Head:

Made like him, like him we rise;
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies.

176

Charles Wesley, 1789, alt.

7.8.7.8. with alleluia

ESUS lives! thy terrors now

JE

Can no longer, death, appall us;

Jesus lives! by this we know

Thou, O grave, canst not enthrall us.
Alleluia!

2 Jesus lives! henceforth is death
But the gate of life immortal;
This shall calm our trembling breath,
When we pass its gloomy portal.

Alleluia!

3 Jesus lives! for us he died;
Then, alone to Jesus living,
Pure in heart may we abide,
Glory to our Saviour giving.

Alleluia!

4 Jesus lives! our hearts know well
Naught from us his love shall sever;
Life, nor death, nor powers of hell
Tear us from his keeping ever.

Alleluia!

5 Jesus lives! to him the throne Over all the world is given:

May we go where he has gone,

Rest and reign with him in heaven.

Alleluia!

Christian F. Gellert, 1757; Tr. Frances E. Cox, 1841, alt.

177

NGELS, roll the rock away!

7.7.7.7.8.7

A Death, yield up the mighty Prey!

See, the Saviour quits the tomb,
Glowing with immortal bloom.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

Christ the Lord is risen to-day.

2 Shout, ye seraphs; angels, raise
Your eternal song of praise;
Let the earth's remotest bound
Echo to the blissful sound.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

Christ the Lord is risen to-day.