Scripture Verse

The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 1 Corinthians 15:26

Introduction

portrait
John B. Dykes (1823–1876)

Words: Un­known au­thor, 6th Cen­tu­ry (Au­ro­ra coe­lum pur­pur­at). Trans­lat­ed from La­tin to Eng­lish by Al­ex­an­der R. Thomp­son, 1861.

Music: Prince of Peace John B. Dykes, 1874 (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a bet­ter pho­to of Thomp­son or Dykes),

portrait
Alexander R. Thompson (1822–1895)

Lyrics

The morn­ing pur­ples all the sky,
The air with prais­es rings,
Defeated hell stands sul­len by,
The world ex­ult­ing sings.

Refrain

Glory to God! our glad lips cry;
All praise and wor­ship be
On earth, in Hea­ven, to God most high,
For Christ’s great vic­to­ry,
For Christ’s great vic­to­ry.

While He, the King all strong to save,
Rends the dark doors away,
And through the breach­es of the grave,
Strides forth in­to the day.

Refrain

Death’s cap­tive, in his gloomy pri­son,
Fast fet­tered He has lain,
But He has mas­tered death, is ris­en,
And death now wears the chain.

Refrain

The shin­ing an­gels cry, Away
With grief; no spic­es bring;
Not tears, but songs, this joy­ful day,
Should greet the ris­ing King!

Refrain

That Thou our Pas­chal Lamb may’st be,
And end­less joy begin.
Jesus, De­liv­er­er, set us free
From the dread death of sin.

Refrain