w, and while countless ages run.

I

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.

II

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.

III

When Hades held the Lord of Life,
Rejoicing, death beheld Him there;--
"Now close the ancient barriers draw,
And drive the prisoner to despair."

IV

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.

V

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.

I

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;

II

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.

III

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.

IV

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.

I

To Thy Cross and Resurrection,
Laud and praise we humbly give;
In Thy death and life immortal,
We will die, and ever live.

II

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.

III

Source of life! O Christ, the anguish
Borne upon the cruel tree
Lifts me to the bliss abiding,