When Hades held the Lord of Life, The boast of sin was vaunting high; 'Twas much to wound a sinless soul, But more to see the God-Man die.
When Hades held the Lord of Life, The gates were barred to hold Him fast. No prison bars so closely drawn Were e'er by soul of mortal passed.
When Hades held the Lord of Life, Rejoicing, death beheld Him there;-- "Now close the ancient barriers draw, And drive the prisoner to despair."
O, blank surprise when Hades shook! O, ringing joy through all the gloom! Asunder fell the gates of night, And rose the Conqueror from the tomb.
Immortal Saviour! death is dead, No more it holds the souls of men; For Thou hast crushed the power of sin, And brought us back to life again.
When Thou, O Christ, upon the tree, Wert bearing pain for sinful men, The sun, lamenting, hid his face, And clothed himself with darkness then;
And o'er the world, when noontide came, The light grew faint and faded soon; And men in wonder saw the dark Bring in the night at hour of noon.
But, low in Hades' depths there shone Such light as never shone before; And prisoners saw the Light of lights, And joyed to feel their bondage o'er.
O blessed art Thou, Christ, our Lord, For all the pain so meekly borne; The dark that hid Thee in Thy woe, Has ushered in a glorious morn.
To Thy Cross and Resurrection, Laud and praise we humbly give; In Thy death and life immortal, We will die, and ever live.
Christ Incarnate! by Thy Manhood, Thou to God hast brought me nigh; Christ the humble! by Thy meekness, Thou hast raised my horn on high.
Source of life! O Christ, the anguish Borne upon the cruel tree Lifts me to the bliss abiding, Where from suffering, souls are free.
Endless praises, bright and thankful, Christ, to Thee be ever given, By the souls in sorrow singing, By the souls redeemed in heaven.
Light is dawning 'mong the hills, Light of light Thy beams display, All the darkness chase away, Light that dawned upon our ills.
Dark the day the Cross was raised By the hands of cruel men; Great Thy load of sorrow then; Angel hosts were sore amazed.
Dark the world while in the tomb, Lone in death the Saviour lay, Till the stone was rolled away, And His Rising quelled the gloom.
Fadeless now, O Light of light, Glory of the Father, Thou, Shine upon Thy people now, Rise upon their darkest night.