Upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulcher…and they found the stone rolled away.
Luke 24:1–2
Words: Isaac Watts, Hymns and Spiritual Songs 1707–09, Book 2, number 72. The Lord’s day; or, The resurrection of Christ.
Music: Lanesboro Robert W. Dixon, 1805 (🔊 pdf nwc).
If you know where to get a good picture of Dixon (head & shoulders, at least 200×300 pixels),
Blest morning, whose young dawning rays
Beheld our rising God,
That saw Him triumph o’er the dust,
And leave His dark abode!
In the cold prison of a tomb
The dead Redeemer lay,
Till the revolving skies had brought
The third, th’appointed day.
Hell and the grave unite their force
To hold our God in vain;
The sleeping Conqueror arose,
And burst their feeble chain.
To Thy great name, almighty Lord,
These sacred hours we pay;
And loud hosannas shall proclaim
The triumph of the day.
Salvation and immortal praise
To our victorious king;
Let Heav’n, and earth, and rocks, and seas,
With glad hosannas ring.