Receive and hide me all in Thee,
Within Thy holy wounds inclose,
And keep me safe from all my foes.
5. In death’s dark hour with me abide
And place me, Savior, at Thy side,
Where with Thy saints I shall adore
And praise Thee, Lord, forevermore.
J. Scheffler, † 1677; M. Loy, tr., a.
207
8, 8, 7, 8, 7
Sev’n times our blessed Savior spoke
When on the cross our sins He took
And died lest man should perish.
Let us His last and dying words
In our remembrance cherish.
2. “Father, forgive these men, for, lo,
They truly know not what they do.”
So far His love extended.
Forgive us, Lord, for we, too, have
Through ignorance offended.
3. Now to the contrite thief He cries:
“Thou, verily, in Paradise
Shalt meet me ere to-morrow.”
Lord, take us to Thy kingdom soon,
Who linger here in sorrow.
4. To weeping Mary, standing by,
“Behold thy Son!” now hear Him cry;
To John, “Behold thy mother!”
Provide, O Lord, for those we leave,
Let each befriend the other.
5. The Savior’s fourth word was, “I thirst!”
O mighty Prince of Life, Thy thirst
For us and our salvation
Is truly great; do help us, then,
That we escape damnation.
6. The fifth, “My God, my God, O why
Forsake me?” Hark, the awful cry!
Lord, Thou wast here forsaken
That we might be received on high;
Let this hope not be shaken.
7. The sixth, when victory was won,
“’Tis finished!” for Thy work was done.
Grant, Lord, that, onward pressing,
We may the work Thou dost impose
Fulfil with Thine own blessing.
8. The last, as woe and sufferings end,
“O God, My Father, I commend
Into Thy hands My spirit.”
Be this, dear Lord, my dying wish;
O heavenly Father, hear it!
9. Whoe’er, by sense of sin opprest,
Upon these words his thoughts will rest,
He joy and hope obtaineth
And, through God’s love and boundless grace,
A peaceful conscience gaineth.
10. O Jesus Christ, Thou Crucified,
Who hast for our offenses died,
Grant that we e’er may ponder
Thy wounds, Thy cross, Thy bitter death,
Both here below and yonder.
Johann Boeschenstein, 15th cent.; tr., anon.
208
6, 5, 6, 5
Glory be to Jesus,
Who in bitter pains
Poured for me the life-blood
From His sacred veins!
2. Grace and life eternal
In that blood I find;
Blest be His compassion,
Infinitely kind!
3. Blest through endless ages
Be the precious stream
Which from endless torments
Did the world redeem!
4. Abel’s blood for vengeance
Pleaded to the skies;
But the blood of Jesus
For our pardon cries.
5. Oft as earth exulting
Wafts its praise on high,
Angel hosts rejoicing
Make their glad reply.
6. Lift we, then, our voices,
Swell the mighty flood;
Louder still and louder
Praise the precious blood!
Italian, 18th cent.; E. Caswall, tr., 1857.
209
8, 7, 8 l
Stricken, smitten, and afflicted,
See Him dying on the tree!
’Tis the Christ by man rejected;
Yes, my soul, ’tis He! ’tis He!
’Tis the long-expected Prophet,
David’s Son, yet David’s Lord;
Proofs I see sufficient of it:
’Tis the true and faithful Word.
2. Tell me, ye who hear Him groaning,
Was there ever grief like His?
Friends through fear His cause disowning,
Foes insulting His distress;
Many hands were raised to wound Him,
None would interpose to save;
But the deepest stroke that pierced Him
Was the stroke that Justice gave.
3. Ye who think of sin but lightly,
Nor suppose the evil great,
Here may view its nature rightly,
Here its guilt may estimate.
Mark the Sacrifice appointed!
See who bears the awful load;
’Tis the WORD, the LORD’S ANOINTED,
Son of Man and Son of God.
4. Here we have a firm foundation;
Here the refuge of the lost;
Christ’s the Rock of our salvation:
His the name of which we boast;
Lamb of God, for sinners wounded!
Sacrifice to cancel guilt!
None shall ever be confounded
Who on Him their hope have built.
Thomas Kelly, 1804.
210
8, 7, 8 l
Jesus, Refuge of the weary,
Object of the spirit’s love,
Fountain in life’s desert dreary,
Savior from the world above;
O how oft Thine eyes, offended,
Gaze upon the sinner’s fall!
Yet, upon the cross extended,
Thou didst bear the pain of all.
2. Do we pass that cross unheeding,
Breathing no repentant vow,
Though we see Thee wounded, bleeding,
See Thy thorn-encircled brow?
Yet Thy sinless death hath brought us
Life eternal, peace, and rest;
Only what Thy grace hath taught us
Calms the sinner’s stormy breast.
3. Jesus, may our hearts be burning
With more fervent love for Thee;
May our eyes be ever turning
To Thy cross of agony;
Till in glory, parted never
From the blessed Savior’s side,
Graven in our hearts forever
Dwell the cross, the Crucified!
Jerome Savonarola, † 1498.
211
C. M.
Behold the Savior of mankind
Nailed to the shameful tree!
How vast the love that Him inclined
To bleed and die for thee!
2. Hark how He groans while nature shakes
And earth’s strong pillars bend!
The Temple’s veil in sunder breaks,
The solid marbles rend.
3. ’Tis done; the precious ransom’s paid;
“Receive my soul!” He cries:
See where He bows His sacred head!
He bows His head and dies.
4. But soon He’ll break death’s envious chain
And in full glory shine.
O Lamb of God, was ever pain,
Was ever love, like Thine?
Samuel Wesley, Sr., 1700.
212
8, 7, 8, 7, 7, 7
Come to Calvary’s holy mountain,
Sinners, ruined by the Fall;
Here a pure and healing fountain
Flows to you, to me, to all,
In a full, perpetual tide,
Opened when our Savior died.
2. Come in poverty and meanness,
Come defiled, without, within;
From infection and uncleanness,
From the leprosy of sin,
Wash your robes and make them white;
Ye shall walk with God in light.
3. Come in sorrow and contrition,
Wounded, impotent, and blind;
Here the guilty free remission,
Here the troubled peace, may find.
Health this fountain will restore;
He that drinks shall thirst no more.
4. He that drinks shall live forever;
’Tis a soul-renewing flood.
God is faithful; God will never
Break His covenant of blood,
Signed when our Redeemer died,
Sealed when He was glorified.
James Montgomery, 1819.
213
7s 8 l
Savior, when in dust to Thee
Low we bow th’ adoring knee,
When, repentant, to the skies
Scarce we lift our weeping eyes,
Oh, by all Thy pains and woe,
Suffered once for man below,
Bending from Thy throne on high,
Hear our solemn litany!
2. By Thy helpless infant years,
By Thy life of want and tears,
By Thy days of sore distress
In the savage wilderness,
By the dread, mysterious hour
Of th’ insulting Tempter’s power:
Turn, O turn, a favoring eye,
Hear our solemn litany!
3. By Thine hour of dire despair,
By Thine agony of prayer,
By the cross, the nail, the thorn,
Piercing spear, and torturing scorn;
By the gloom that veiled the skies
O’er the dreadful sacrifice:
Listen to our humble cry,
Hear our solemn litany!
4. By Thy deep expiring groan;
By the sad sepulchral stone;
By the vault, whose dark abode
Held in vain the rising God:
Oh, from earth to heaven restored,
Mighty, reascended Lord,
Listen, listen to the cry
Of our solemn litany!
Robert Grant, 1815, a.
214
C. M.
Alas! and did my Savior bleed,
And did my Sov’reign die?
Would He devote that sacred head
For such a worm as I?
2. Was it for crimes that I had done
He groaned upon the tree?
Amazing pity, grace unknown,
And love beyond degree!
3. Well might the sun in darkness hide
And shut his glories in
When God, the mighty Maker, died
For man the creature’s sin.
4. Thus might I hide my blushing face
While His dear Cross appears,
Dissolve my heart in thankfulness,
And melt my eyes in tears.
5. But drops of grief can ne’er repay
The debt of love I owe;
Here, Lord, I give myself away,
’Tis all that I can do.
Isaac Watts, 1707.
BURIAL OF JESUS.
215
4, 4, 7, 7, 6
O darkest woe!
Ye tears, forth flow!
Has earth so sad a wonder?
God the Father’s only Son
Now is buried yonder!
2. O sorrow dread
Our God is dead!
But by His expiation
Of our guilt upon the cross
Gained for us salvation.
3. O child of man!
It was the ban
Of death on thee that brought Him
Down to suffer for thy sins,
And such woe hath wrought Him.
4. See, stained with blood,
The Lamb of God,
The Bridegroom, lies before thee,
Pouring out His life that He
May to life restore thee.
5. O Ground of faith,
Laid low in death,
Sweet lips now silent sleeping!
Surely all that live must mourn
Here with bitter weeping.
6. O Virgin-born,
Thy death we mourn,
Thou lovely Star of gladness!
Who could see Thy reeking blood
Without grief and sadness?
7. Yea, blest is he
Whose heart shall be
Fixed here, who apprehendeth
Why the Lord of Glory thus
To the grave descendeth.
8. O Jesus blest,
My Help and Rest,
With tears I now entreat Thee:
Make me love Thee to the last,
Till in heaven I greet Thee!
First stanza, anon.; J. Rist, 1641.
216
4, 4, 7, 7, 6
So rest, my Rest,
Thou Ever-blest!
Thy grave with sinners making;
By Thy precious death from sin
My dead soul awaking.
2. After Thy strife,
Life of my life,
Thou’rt in the tomb reposing,
Round Thee now a rock-hewn grave,
Rock of Ages, closing.
3. How cold art Thou,
My Savior, now!
Thy fervent love hath driven
Thee into the cold, dark grave
That I might gain heaven.
4. Breath of all breath!
I know from death
Thou wilt my dust awaken;
Wherefore should I dread the grave
Or my faith be shaken?
5. To me the tomb
Shall be a room
Where I lie down on roses;
Who by faith hath conquered death
Sweetly there reposes.
6. The body dies—
Naught else—and lies
In dust until victorious
From the grave it shall arise
Beautiful and glorious.
7. Meantime I will,
My Savior, still
Deep in my bosom lay Thee,
Ever musing on Thy death.
Leave me not, I pray Thee!
Sal. Franck, 1716.
217
L. M.
Lord Jesus, who, our souls to save,
Didst rest and slumber in the grave,
Now grant us all in Thee to rest
And here to live as seems Thee best.
2. Give us the strength, the dauntless faith,
That Thou hast purchased with Thy death
And lead us to that glorious place
Where we shall see the Father’s face.
3. O Lamb of God, who once wast slain,
We thank Thee for that bitter pain.
Let us share in Thy death that we
May enter into life with Thee.
G. Werner, 1638; C. Winkworth, tr., a.
EASTER.
218
7, 6, 7, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6
Awake, my heart, with gladness,
See what to-day is done,
How after gloom and sadness
Comes forth the glorious Sun!
My Savior there was laid
Where our bed must be made
When to the realms of light
Our spirit wings its flight.
2. They in the grave did sink Him,
The Foe held jubilee;
Before he can bethink him,
Lo! Christ again is free,
And “Victory!” He cries
And waveth toward the skies
His banner, for the field
Is by the Hero held.
3. Upon the grave is standing
The Hero, looking round;
The Foe, no more withstanding,
His weapons on the ground
Throws down, his hellish power
To Christ he must give o’er
And to the Victor’s bands
Must yield his feet and hands.
4. This is a sight that gladdens
And fills my heart with glee;
Now naughtsoever saddens
My soul nor takes from me
My trust or fortitude
Or any precious good
Which by His victory
My Savior gained for me.
5. Hell and its prince, the devil,
Now of their power are shorn,
I now am safe from evil,
And sin I laugh to scorn.
Grim Death with all his might
Cannot my soul affright;
He is a powerless form,
Howe’er he rage and storm.
6. The world against me rageth,
Its fury I disdain;
Though bitter war it wageth,
Its work is all in vain.
My heart from care is free,
No trouble troubles me,
Misfortune now is play;
And night is bright as day.
7. I cleave now and forever
To Christ, a member true;
My Head will leave me never,
Whate’er He passeth through.
He treads the world beneath
His feet and conquers death
And hell and breaks sin’s thrall;
I’m with Him through it all.
8. To glory He ascendeth,
I follow Him fore’er,
For Christ, my Head, defendeth
His member from all care.
No enemy I fear
Because my Head is near;
My Savior is my Shield,
By Him all rage is stilled.
9. He brings me to the portal
That opens into bliss,
Where, graved in words immortal,
This golden scripture is:
“Who there are scorned with Me
Here with Me crowned shall be;
Who there with Me shall die
Shall here be raised as I!”
Paul Gerhardt, 1649; J. Kelly, tr., a.
219
C. M.
Father of Jesus Christ, my Lord,
My Savior, and my Head,
I trust in Thee, whose powerful word
Hath raised Him from the dead.
2. Thou know’st for my offense He died
And rose again for me,
Fully and freely justified,
That I might live to Thee.
3. Eternal life to all mankind
Thou hast in Jesus giv’n;
And all who seek, in Him shall find
The happiness of heav’n.
4. Obedient faith, that waits on Thee,
Thou never wilt reprove;
But Thou wilt form Thy Son in me
And perfect me in love.
5. To Thee the glory of Thy power
And faithfulness I give.
I shall in Christ at that glad hour,
And Christ in me, shall live.
Charles Wesley, 1742.
220
7, 8, 7, 8, 7, 7
Jesus Christ, my sure Defense
And my Savior, ever liveth;
Knowing this, my confidence
Rests upon the hope it giveth
Though thy night of death be fraught
Still with many an anxious thought.
2. Jesus, my Redeemer, lives!
I, too, unto life must waken;
Endless joy my Savior gives;
Shall my courage, then, be shaken?
Shall I fear, or could the Head
Rise and leave His members dead?
3. Nay, too closely am I bound
Unto Him by hope forever;
Faith’s strong hand the Rock hath found,
Grasped it, and will leave it never;
Even death now cannot part
From its Lord the trusting heart.
4. I am only flesh and blood,
And on this corruption seizeth;
But I know my Lord and God
From the grave my body raiseth
That with Him eternally
In His glory I may be.
5. Glorified, I shall again
With this skin then be enshrouded;
In this body I shall then
See my God with eyes unclouded;
In this flesh I then shall see
Jesus Christ eternally.
6. Then these eyes my Lord shall know,
My Redeemer and my Brother;
In His love my soul shall glow,—
I myself, and not another!
Only there shall disappear
Weakness in and round me here.
7. What now sickens, mourns, and sighs
Christ with Him in glory bringeth;
Earthly is the seed and dies,
Heavenly from the grave it springeth;
Natural is the death we die,
Spiritual our life on high.
8. Then take comfort, nay, rejoice!
For His members Christ will cherish;
Fear not, they will know His voice,
Though awhile they seem to perish,
When the final trump is heard
And the deaf, cold grave is stirred.
9. Laugh to scorn the gloomy grave
And at death no longer tremble;
For the Lord, who comes to save,
Round Him shall His saints assemble,
Raising them o’er all their foes,
Mortal weakness, fear, and woes.
10. Only draw away your heart
Now from pleasures base and hollow;
Would ye there with Christ have part,
Here His footsteps ye must follow;
Fix your hearts beyond the skies,
Whither ye yourselves would rise!
Berlin, 1653; C. Winkworth, tr., a.
221
7s
“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.
2. 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.
3. Vain the stone, the watch, the seal;
Christ has burst the gates of hell.
Death in vain forbids His rise;
Christ has opened Paradise.
4. Lives again our glorious King;
Where, O Death, is now thy sting?
Dying once, He all doth save;
Where thy victory, O Grave?
5. 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.
6. Hail the Lord of earth and heav’n!
Praise to Thee by both be giv’n!
Thee we greet triumphant now;
Hail, the Resurrection Thou!
Charles Wesley, 1739.
222
7, 8, 7, 8, 7, 7
Jesus lives! No longer now
Can thy terrors, Death, appal me;
Jesus lives! by this I know
From the grave He will recall me.
Brighter scenes will then commence;
This shall be my confidence.
2. Jesus lives! To Him the throne
High o’er heaven and earth is given.
I shall go where He is gone,
Live and reign with Him in heaven.
God is pledged; weak doubtings, hence!
This shall be my confidence.
3. Jesus lives! For me He died,
Hence will I, to Jesus living,
Pure in heart and act abide,
Praise to Him and glory giving.
Freely God doth aid dispense;
This shall be my confidence.
4. Jesus lives! I know full well
Naught from me His love shall sever;
Life nor death nor powers of hell
Part me now from Christ forever.
God will be a sure Defense:
This shall be my confidence.
5. Jesus lives! Henceforth is death
But the gate of life immortal;
This shall calm my trembling breath
When I pass its gloomy portal.
Faith shall cry, as fails each sense,
“Jesus is my confidence!”
C. F. Gellert, 1757; Frances E. Cox, tr., † 1864.
223
8, 7, 8, 7, 7, 7
Who is this that comes from Edom,
All His raiment stained with blood;
To the captive speaking freedom,
Bringing and bestowing good;
Glorious in the garb He wears,
Glorious in the spoil He bears?
2. ’Tis the Savior, now victorious,
Traveling onward in His might;
’Tis the Savior; O how glorious
To His people is the sight!
Satan conquered and the grave,
Jesus now is strong to save.
3. Why that blood His raiment staining?
’Tis the blood of many slain;
Of His foes there’s none remaining,
None the contest to maintain.
Fall’n they are, no more to rise;
All their glory prostrate lies.
4. Mighty Victor, reign forever,
Wear the crown so dearly won;
Never shall Thy people, never,
Cease to sing what Thou hast done.
Thou hast fought Thy people’s foes;
Thou hast healed Thy people’s woes.
Thomas Kelly, 1809, a.
224
8, 7, 8, 7, 7, 8, 7, 4
In death’s strong grasp the Savior lay,
For our offenses given;
But now the Lord is ris’n to-day
And brings us life from heaven.
Therefore let us all rejoice,
And praise our God with cheerful voice,
And sing loud hallelujahs.
Hallelujah!
2. No son of man could conquer Death,
Such mischief sin had wrought us,
For innocence dwelt not on earth,
And therefore Death had brought us
Into thraldom from of old
And ever grew more strong and bold
And kept us in his bondage.
Hallelujah!
3. But Jesus Christ, God’s only Son,
To our low state descended,
The cause of Death He has undone,
His power forever ended,
Ruined all his right and claim,
And left him nothing but the name,—
His sting is lost forever.
Hallelujah!
4. It was a strange and dreadful fray
When Death and Life contended;
But it was Life that won the day,
The reign of Death was ended.
Holy Scripture plainly saith
That Death is swallowed up by Death,
Made henceforth a derision.
Hallelujah!
6. Here the true Paschal Lamb we see,
Whom God so freely gave us;
He died on the accursed tree—
So strong His love!—to save us.
See, His blood doth mark our door;
Faith points to it, Death passes o’er.
The Murderer cannot harm us.
Hallelujah!
6. So let us keep the festival
With heartfelt exultation.
Christ is Himself the Joy of all,
The Sun of our salvation.
By His grace He doth impart
Eternal sunshine to the heart;
The night of sin is ended.
Hallelujah!
7. Then let us feast this Easter Day
On Christ, the Bread of heaven;
The Word of Grace hath purged away
The old and evil leaven;
Christ alone our souls will feed,
He is our meat and drink indeed,
Faith lives upon no other.
Hallelujah!
Martin Luther, 1524.
225
7s (with Hall.)
Christ the Lord is risen again!
Christ has broken death’s strong chain!
Hark, the angels shout for joy,
Singing evermore on high:
Hallelujah!
2. 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!
3. 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!
4. He whose path no records tell,
Who descended into hell,
Who the strong man armed hath bound,
Now in highest heaven is crowned:
Hallelujah!
5. He who slumbered in the grave
Is exalted now to save;
Now through Christendom it rings
That the Lamb is King of kings!
Hallelujah!
6. Now He bids us tell mankind
How all may salvation find,
How poor sinners are forgiv’n,
And through faith may enter heav’n:
Hallelujah!
7. Thou our Paschal Lamb indeed,
Christ, to-day Thy people feed;
Take our sins and guilt away
That we all may sing for aye:
Hallelujah!
Bohemian Brethren, M. Weiss, 1531; C. Winkworth, tr., a.
226
10, 6, 10, 9, 9, 4
I am content! My Jesus liveth still,
In whom my heart is pleased;
He hath fulfilled the Law of God for me,
God’s wrath He hath appeased.
Since Him from life death could not sever,
I also shall not die forever.
I am content!
2. I am content! My Jesus is my Head,
His member I will be;
He bowed His head, when on the cross He died,
With cries of agony;
How death is brought into subjection
For me, too, by His resurrection.
I am content!
3. I am content! My Jesus is my Lord,
My Prince of Life and Peace;
His loving heart is thirsting after man’s
Welfare and future bliss.
Where He, my Lord and Master, liveth,
His servant also He receiveth.
I am content!
4. I am content! My Jesus is my Light,
My radiant Sun of Grace.
His cheering rays beam blessings forth for all;
Sweet comfort, hope, and peace.
This Easter-sun brings life, salvation,
And everlasting exultation.
I am content!
5. I am content! Lord, draw me but to Thee
That from the dead I rise
With Thee, my Head, and enter cheerfully
Into Thy heavenly joys.
The fetters of my body sever,
Then shall my soul rejoice forever.
I am content!
J. J. Moeller, 1704; A. Crull, tr.
227
L. M.
Where wilt Thou go since night draws near,
O Jesus Christ, Thou Pilgrim dear?
Lord, make me happy, be my Guest,
And in my heart, oh, deign to rest.
2. Grant my request, O dearest Friend,
For truly I Thy best intend;
Thou knowest that Thou ever art
A welcome Guest unto my heart.
3. The day is now far spent and gone,
The shades of night come quickly on;
Then stay with me, Thou heavenly Light,
And do not leave me in this night.
4. Enlighten me that from the way
That leads to heaven I may not stray,
That I may never be misled,
Though night of sin is round me spread.
5. And when I on my death-bed lie,
Help me and let me gently die.
Abide! I will not let Thee go!
Thou wilt not leave me, Lord, I know.
E. C. Homburg, † 1681; A. Crull, tr., a.
228
C. M.
Welcome, Thou Victor in the strife,
Welcome from out the cave!
To-day we triumph in Thy life
Around Thine empty grave.
2. Our enemy is put to shame,
His short-lived triumph o’er;
Our God is with us, we exclaim;
We fear our foe no more.
3. The dwellings of the just resound
With songs of victory;
For in their midst Thou, Lord, art found
And bringest peace with Thee.
4. O let Thy conquering banner wave
O’er hearts Thou makest free;
And point the path that from the grave
Leads heavenward up to Thee.
5. We bury all our sin and crime
Deep in our Savior’s tomb
And seek the treasure there that time
And change can ne’er consume.
6. Fearless we lay us in the tomb
And sleep the night away;
For Thou art there to break the gloom
And call us back to-day.
B. Schmolck, 1712; C. Winkworth, tr., a.
229
L. M.
I know that my Redeemer lives!
What comfort this sweet sentence gives!
He lives, He lives, who once was dead,
He lives, my ever-living Head.
2. He lives triumphant from the grave,
He lives eternally to save,
He lives all-glorious in the sky,
He lives exalted there on high.
3. He lives to bless me with His love,
He lives to plead for me above,
He lives my hungry soul to feed,
He lives to help in time of need.
4. He lives to grant me rich supply,
He lives to guide me with His eye,
He lives to hear my soul’s complaint,
He lives to comfort me when faint.
5. He lives to silence all my fears,
He lives to wipe away my tears,
He lives to calm my troubled heart,
He lives all blessings to impart.
6. He lives, my kind, wise, heavenly Friend,
He lives and loves me to the end;
He lives, and while He lives, I’ll sing;
He lives, my Prophet, Priest, and King!
7. He lives and grants me daily breath;
He lives, and I shall conquer death;
He lives my mansion to prepare;
He lives to bring me safely there.
8. He lives, all glory to His name!
He lives, my Jesus, still the same.
O the sweet joy this sentence gives,
“I know that my Redeemer lives!”
Samuel Medley, 1775.
230
L. M.
Lord Jesus Christ, strong Hero Thou,
Grim death Thou hast o’erpowered now,
Thou dost destroy hell’s gate and chain,
Dost on the third day rise again.
2. Thou grantest to Thy friends the grace
To look again upon Thy face
And showest them the glorious prize
Won when from death Thou didst arise.
3. Grant that we and all Christians may
Partake of this great joy to-day
Which by Thy resurrection Thou
To all men freely givest now.
4. Grant us that we may rise from sin,
A holy life to lead begin,
Till we, from sin and pain set free,
In endless Easter live with Thee.
B. Helder, 1620; A. Crull, tr., a.
ASCENSION.
231
8, 7, 8 l