Ah, why from heavenly blessing Didst Thou to earth descend, And share the woes distressing, To be the sinner's Friend? The angels looked amazéd, While men untouched beheld The Christ to souls debaséd, By love divine impelled. III 'Twas love, 'twas love unbounded, As high as heaven ascends, As deep as depths unsounded, And broad as earth extends; Yea, 'twas a love undying, That suffered for my sake;-- Lord, may a love replying, Within my soul awake. I This be our prayer, O Saviour of our souls, When night is dark, and muttering thunder rolls, For none but Thee the power of hell controls,-- Have mercy, Lord. II There is no help, if Thou no help wilt bring; No heavenly messenger on speedy wing; Hope gilds the morn, if to Thy cross we cling,-- Have mercy, Lord. III Woeful the threats that flash from Sinai's hill; Dark are the fears, our guilty souls that fill; Help we have none,--O then, of Thy sweet will, Have mercy, Lord. IV Strong is the arm that in our cause was raised,-- Christ, be Thy name to endless ages praised, Who, at the hands of sinners was abased;-- Have mercy, Lord. V Doomed to our death, the God-man bowed the head; Pierced for our sins, upon the cross He bled; Life is His gift, Who liveth, and was dead;-- Have mercy, Lord; VI Life, and to live, amid the bliss beyond, Where souls beloved, to loving souls respond, Free from all bondage in Thy gentle bond,-- Have mercy, Lord. EASTER I Lo, in its brightness the morning arising, Gold on the hilltops in richness is spread; Heaven decks the earth with a beauty surprising, Light is the victor, and darkness hath fled. II Lord of the morning, our souls are awaking, Flood them with beauty, and free them from gloom; Morn speaks of joy, for when morning was breaking, Free from death's bands Thou did'st rise from the tomb. III Souls that in slumber behold not the beauty, See not the Master arise in His might; Hear not the call to the doing of duty, Know not the rapture that thrills in the light. IV Morn speaks of life,--let us rise to new living, Rise with the Lord to the freedom He gives, Give to the world what the morning is giving, Hope that was born in the darkness, and lives. V