CHRIST THE LORD IS RISEN AGAIN!

Live, now live, O Magdalena!
Shining is thy new-born day;
Let thy bosom pant with pleasure,
Death's poor terror flee away;
Far from thee the tears of sadness,
Welcome love, and welcome gladness!
Hallelujah!

259

CHRIST THE LORD IS RISEN AGAIN! (Christus ist erstanden.)

An Easter hymn of the BоHEmian BrethreN, translated into German by MICHAEL WEISS, 1531, and, after him, into English by Miss C. WINKWORTH, 1858 (L. G., II. 62). The German begins, like similar mediæval hymns: "Christus ist erstanden von des Todes Banden" (in KNAPP's Liederschatz, 3d ed., No. 626). Compare the note on the next hymn.

"HRIST the Lord is risen again!

CHRIS

Christ hath broken every chain!

Hark! the angels shout for joy,
Singing evermore on high:
Hallelujah!

He who gave for us His life,
Who for us endured the strife,

Is our Paschal Lamb to-day!
We, too, sing for joy, and say:
Hallelujah!

He who bore all pain and loss
Comfortless upon the cross,
Lives in glory now on high,
Pleads for us and hears our cry:
Hallelujah!

He whose path no records tell,
Who descended into hell,

Who the strong man armed hath bound,
Now in the highest heaven is crowned:
Hallelujah!

He who slumbered in the grave,

Is exalted now to save;

Now through Christendom it rings.

That the Lamb is King of kings:
Hallelujah!

Now He bids us tell abroad,

How the lost may be restored, '

How the penitent forgiven,

How we, too, may enter heaven:
Hallelujah!

Thou our Paschal Lamb indeed,
Christ, to-day Thy people feed;

IN THE BONDS OF DEATH HE LAY.

261

Take our sins and guilt away;
Let us sing by night and day:
Hallelujah!

IN THE BONDS OF DEATH HE LAY. (Christ lag in Todesbanden.)

From the German of Dr. MARTIN Luther, 1524 (Schaff's G. H. B., No. 132; Lyra Germ., I. p. 87). Based upon a Latin hymn of the 15th century: "Surrexit Christus hodie" (DANIEL, I. 341; and WACKERNAGEL, I. 175-177, who gives five forms), also upon an old German Easter hymn: "Christ ist erstanden" (several forms in WACKERNAGEL, II. 43 and 726-737). Luther's hymn is a great improvement upon its predecessors.

'N the bonds of Death He lay,

IN

Who for our offence was slain;
But the Lord is risen to-day,

Christ hath brought us life again.
Wherefore let us all rejoice,
Singing loud, with cheerful voice:
Hallelujah!

Of the sons of men was none

Who could break the bonds of Death:

Sin this mischief dire had done,

Innocent was none on earth;

Wherefore Death grew strong and bold,
Would all men in his prison hold:

Hallelujah!

Jesus Christ, God's only Son,
Came at last our foe to smite;
All our sins away hath done,

Done away Death's power and right;
Only the form of Death is left,
Of his sting he is bereft:
Hallelujah!

That was a wondrous war I trow,

When Life and Death together fought;
But Life hath triumphed o'er his foe,
Death is mocked and set at nought;
'Tis even as the Scripture saith,

Christ through death has conquered Death:
Hallelujah !1

The rightful Paschal Lamb is He,
On whom alone we all must live,
Who to death upon the tree,

Himself in wondrous love did give.
Faith strikes His blood upon the door,
Death sees, and dares not harm us more:

Hallelujah!

1 In the original, this description of the marvellous duel between Life and Death is peculiarly forcible:

"Es war ein wunderlicher Krieg,

Da Tod und Leben rungen;
Das Leben das behielt den Sieg,
Es hat den Tod verschlungen.

Die Schrift hat verkündet das,
Wie da ein Tod den andern frass:

Ein Spott aus dem Tod ist worden. Hallelujah."

ERE YET THE DAWN HAS FILLED THE SKIES. 263

Let us keep high festival,

On this most blessed Day of days,
When God His mercy showed to all!
Our Sun is risen with brightest rays;
And our dark hearts rejoice to see
Sin and night before Him flee:
Hallelujah!

To the Supper of the Lord,
Gladly will we cone to-day:
The word of peace is now restored,
The old leaven is put away.
Christ will be our food alone,
Faith no life but His doth own:

Hallelujah!

ERE YET THE DAWN HAS FILLED THE SKIES.

(Früh morgens da die Sonn' aufgeht.)

From the German of JOHANN HEERMANN, 1630. The original has nineteen stan zas, but is abridged in all the German hymn-books. Lyra Germ., II. 64.

'RE yet the dawn has filled the skies,

ERE

Behold my Saviour Christ arise,

He chaseth from us sin and night,

And brings us joy and life and light:
Hallelujah Hallelujah!