’Twas at the Matin Hour

’Twas at the ma­tin hour

Before the ear­ly dawn;

The pri­son doors flew op­en

The bolts of death were drawn.

From realms un­seen

an un­seen way

Th’al­migh­ty Sav­ior came

And fol­low­ing on His si­lent steps

An an­gel armed in flame.

The stone is rolled away

The keep­ers faint­ing fall

Satan and Pi­late’s watch­men

The day has scared them all.

The an­gel came full ear­ly

But Christ has gone be­fore;

Not for Him­self

but for His saints

Is burst the pri­son door.

When all His saints as­sem­ble

Make haste ere twi­light cease

His East­er bless­ing to re­ceive

And so lie down in peace.