170. Come, You Faithful

Come, you faithful, raise the strain Of triumphant gladness; God has brought His Israel Into joy from sadness; Loosed from Pharoah's bitter yoke Jacob's sons and daughters; Led them with unmoistened foot Through the Red Sea waters. 'Tis the spring of souls today; Christ has burst His prison, And from three days' sleep in death As a sun has risen; All the winter of our sins, Long and dark, is flying From His light, to whom is giv'n Laud and praise undying. Now the queen of seasons, bright With the day of splendor, With the royal feast of feasts, Comes its joy to render; Comes to gladden faithful hearts Which with true affection Welcome in unwearied strain Jesus' resurrection. For today among the twelve Christ appeared, bestowing His deep peace, which evermore Passes human knowing. Neither could the gates of death, Nor the tomb's dark portal, Nor the watchers, nor the seal, Hold Him as a mortal. Alleluia! now we cry To our King immortal, Who, triumphant, burst the bars Of the tomb's dark portal; Alleluia with the Son, God the Father praising; Alleluia! yet again To the Spirit raising.