Hymns from the Morningland Part 4

They brought Him to the hill of death Where ruthless felons died, And there, upon a cross of shame, The Christ was crucified; By wicked men the nails were driven, And G.o.d, in silence, looked from heaven.

II

They bade Him find His help in G.o.d, If He were Christ indeed, And save Himself, as He had saved So many in their need; Such taunting words like venom stung, And G.o.d beheld the arrows flung.

III

They wagged their heads in mocking scorn, And bade the Christ come down,-- While from His wounds the blood-drops fell, And from the th.o.r.n.y crown; The spear uplifted pierced His side, And G.o.d beheld the crimson tide.

IV

All dark at noon, the sun refused His wonted light to shed, For sin and death had G.o.d defied, And Christ His Son was dead; And G.o.d had turned His face away, Nor heard the Christ in anguish pray.

V

All hail the Resurrection morn!

The light returns again, And Christ is throned at G.o.d's right hand Who once for man was slain; And G.o.d extends His pardoning grace, Nor hides the brightness of His face.

I

"Watch with Me," The Master said, And the night around Him fell, While the snares of sin and h.e.l.l, On His awful path were spread.

II

But they slumbered while He prayed;-- They who were His constant care, Heard no echo of His prayer, When His soul was sore dismayed.

III

Then He held the cup of woe, And the prayer to G.o.d was made,-- Thrice in agony He prayed, That He might the draught forego.

IV

But the will of G.o.d was done, In the garden, on that night, And He rose in all the might Of the well-beloved Son.

V

Ah, my soul, thy Lord behold,-- Wake from slumber, hear Him pray, All thy griefs are borne away, By His agony, untold.

VI

And the strength of G.o.d is thine When the will of G.o.d is done In obedience, as a son, Conscious of a love divine.

I

They cried, "Let Him be crucified!"

And surging crowds around Him pressed; With breaking heart, and soul distressed, He bore the cross on which He died.

II

They cried, "Let Him be crucified!"

And He the well-beloved Son, The Son of G.o.d Who should have won The love He never once denied.

III

They cried, "Let Him be crucified!"

And to the wood His hands were nailed, And mocking words His ears a.s.sailed, That G.o.d, Who looked from heaven, defied.

IV

They cried, "Let Him be crucified!"

And when the deed of night was done, The light was blotted from the sun, And h.e.l.l's abode exulting, cried.

V

They cried, "Let Him be crucified!"

Ah, Lord, my soul with anguish burns, As to that cruel cross it turns, For 'twas for me the Saviour died.

I

O darkest night that ever fell!

Before the sun had set, The light was blotted from the heavens, And death, and darkness met.

II

For G.o.d had turned His face away From all the sin He bore, Whom in His love to earth He sent, To bear our suffering sore.

III

Ah! darkest night that ever falls On soul of human race, When G.o.d in anger turns away The brightness of His face;

IV

Then, sun and moon, and stars are lost, Amid' our hopeless night; And all the radiant bliss of life Is curtained from our sight.

V

O Christ, Thou art our Light, and Sun, Our Hope 'mid guilty fears; No night surrounds Thy presence now, Nor threatening cloud appears;

VI