Scripture Verse

There was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from Heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door. Matthew 28:2

Introduction

portrait
John B. Herbert
1852–1927

Words: Ro­bert L. Fletch­er, in The Gos­pel Choir No. 2‎ (New York: Big­low & Main, 1895), num­ber 30.

Music: Hou­di­ni John B. Her­bert (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you have ac­cess to Fletch­er’s pho­to (head-and-shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

At the grave where Christ lay sleeping,
In the arms of death’s embrace,
Roman wards their watch were keeping,
As the night wore on apace;
Where in majesty descending,
Came an angel from the throne,
At the tomb of Joseph bending,
Rolled away the ponderous stone.

Lo! the grave is rent asunder,
And the watchers are as dead;
Heav’n and earth beheld, in wonder,
Death in chains a captive led:
Angels, robed in white, are saying,
He is ris’n, He is not here:
Christ, the call to life obeying,
Thrills the world with hope and cheer.

Re-ascend, O King victorious,
Take again Thy royal throne;
There in Heav’n to rule all glorious,
Till the earth becomes Thine own:
Foes may hate Thee, they can never
Overthrow Thy righteous sway;
Thine shall be the kingdom ever,
In the realms of perfect day.