Charles Wesley: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Hymn I

Charles Wesley

“Hymn I” as printed in Hymns for our Lord's Resurrection (1746).

Charles Wesley: Collected Lyrics Text 5 1746 · historical text
Public domainHymnSacred song
Complete public-domain lyrics

This text comes from Hymns for our Lord's Resurrection, a historical songbook transcribed on Wikisource and reproduced from the pinned revision linked below.

Verse 1

1.ALL ye that seek the Lord who died,

Your GOD for Sinners crucified,

Prevent the earliest Dawn, and come

To worship at his sacred Tomb.

Verse 2

2Bring the sweet Spices of your Sighs,

Your contrite Hearts, and streaming Eyes,

Your sad Complaints, and humble Fears;

Come, and embalm Him with your Tears.

Verse 3

3While thus ye love your Souls t'employ,

Your Sorrow shall be turn'd to Joy:

Now, let all your Grief be o'er!

Believe; and ye shall weep no more.

Verse 4

4An Earthquake hath the Cavern shook,

And burst the Door, and rent the Rock;

The Lord hath sent his Angel down,

And he hath rolled away the Stone.

Verse 5

5As Snow behold his Garment white,

His Countenance as Lightning bright:

He sits, and waves a flaming Sword,

And waits upon his Rising Lord.

Verse 6

6The third Auspicious Morn is come,

And calls your Savior from the Tomb,

The Bands of Death are torn away,

The yawning Tomb gives back its Prey.

Verse 7

7Could neither Seal nor Stone secure,

Nor Men, nor Devils make it sure?

The Seal is broke, the Stone cast by,

And all the Pow'rs of Darkness fly.

Verse 8

8The Body breathes, and lifts his Head,

The Keepers sink, and fall as dead;

The Dead restor'd to Life appear,

The Living quake, and die for Fear.

Verse 9

9No Power a Band of Soldiers have

To keep One Body in its Grave:

Surely it no Dead Body was

That could the Roman Eagles chase.

Verse 10

10The Lord of Life is ris'n indeed,

To Death deliver'd in your stead;

His Rise proclaims your Sins forgiven,

And shews the Living Way to Heaven.

Verse 11

11Haste then, ye Souls that first believe,

Who dare the Gospel-Word receive,

Your Faith with joyful Hearts confess,

Be bold, be JESUS' Witnesses.

Verse 12

12Go tell the Followers of your Lord

Their JESUS is to Life restor'd;

He lives, that They his Life may find;

He lives, to quicken all Mankind.

Credits

Written by Charles Wesley

Words by Charles Wesley. Historical text published in Hymns for our Lord's Resurrection (1746); public domain. No claim to a modern recording or arrangement.

Source & text edition

Hymns for our Lord's Resurrection (1746), “Hymn I”

Every text in this 1746 collection is by Charles Wesley (1707-1788), who died more than 230 years ago, so the text is in the public domain worldwide; the edition carries a Wikisource PD-old determination.

How to read this historical text and its source

Read the source on Wikisource

View copyright evidence · Transcription terms (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Retrieved 2026-10-27. Line spacing and section labels are adapted for reading. The displayed text follows the linked edition. Editorial notes and abstract artwork are by 52lyrics.
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