Break off your tears, ye saints, and tell
How high our great Deliverer reigns;
Sing how He spoiled the hosts of hell,
And led the monster Death in chains.
Say, “Live for ever, wondrous King!
Born to redeem and strong to save;”
Then ask the monster, “Where’s thy sting?”
And “Where’s thy victory, boasting grave?”
The hymn, indeed, contains some weak lines, but the first and the three last verses have even great dramatic vigour and strength.
But hymns are not always to shine with splendid lights, they are to soothe and comfort; hence such words as—