Near the Tomb Where Jesus Slept

Near the tomb where Je­sus slept

Roman guards their night-watch kept

Pacing to and fro alone

By the close­ly seal­èd stone.

Christ! Thou Con­quer­or! All hail!

Guard and stone can naught avail!

Death is slain in mor­tal strife;

Hail the Prince and Lord of Life!

In the dark­some mid­night

lo!

Hark! an earth­quake rolls be­low!

Sign of dead­ly con­flict o’er

Death de­spoiled for­ev­er­more!

That which by the cave-mouth lay

Angel hands have rolled away;

And the Lord

His three days sped

Comes tri­umph­ant from the dead!

O! the breath­less fear which fell

On the guards no tongue may tell;

Prostrate all

in sore dis­may

As He rose

and passed away!

Christ

Thou Vic­tor o’er the tomb

Take us in the Day of Doom

Take us to Thine own dear side

At the last great East­er-tide!

Christ! Thou Con­quer­or! all hail!

Let not death o’er us pre­vail:

Help us in our mor­tal strife

Bring us to the land of life!