MHB 195 – HE dies! the Friend of Sinners dies!

Methodist-Hymns-195

1: HE dies! the Friend of Sinners
dies!
Lo! Salem’s daughters weep
around!
A solemn darkness veils the skies,
A sudden trembling shakes the
ground:
Come, saints, and with your tears
bedew
The Sufferer, bruised beneath
your load;
He poured out cries and tears for
you,
He shed for you His precious
blood.

2: Here’s love and grief beyond
degree:
The Lord of Glory dies for man!
But lo! what sudden joys I see:
Jesus, the dead, revives again!
The rising God forsakes the tomb;
The tomb in vain forbids His
rise!
Cherubic legions guard Him home,
And shout Him welcome to the
skies!

3: Break off your tears, ye saints, and
tell
How high your great Deliverer
reigns;
Sing how He spoiled the hosts of
hell,
And led the monster death in
chains.
Say: Live for ever, wondrous
King!
Born to redeem, and strong to
save!
Then ask the monster: Where’s
thy sting?
And: Where’s thy victory, boast-
ing grave?

Isaac Watts,1674-1748;
alt. by Martin Madan, 1726-90.