Easter bells are ringing,
Easter anthems rise,
Age and Childhood singing
Strains that seek the skies:
Seek their source, ascending
Where, in rapture sweet,
Song and service blending,
Saint and seraph meet.
“Christ, the Lord, is risen!”
Wondering angels cry;
“Broken, Death’s dread prison!”
Sons of men reply.
Blessed song and story!
Doubt and fear depart,—
Resurrection glory
Floods the faithful heart.
Purest, purest pleasure
In each bosom wells;
Happy, happy measure—
How the choral swells!
By that song supplanted,
Wrath and wrong shall cease;
From this hour undaunted
Reigns the Prince of Peace.
Easter lilies, blowing,
Breathe his praise abroad,—
All their grace bestowing
On the Son of God.
Lo! his brow adorning,
Kings their homage pay;
Hark! the stars of morning
Hail his boundless sway.
THE SURE FOUNDATION.
A strong and sure foundation
Is Jesus Christ, the Lord,—
Before the world’s creation
The everlasting Word!
His power, supreme, unbounded,
He pledges to his own;
On him their hope is grounded
Securely as God’s throne.
What though the tempest rages?
No harm his cause sustains;
Built on the Rock of Ages,
Unmoved the Church remains.
His word shall stand forever,—
Nor shall one letter fail:
“The gates of hell shall never
Against my Church prevail.”