Charles Wesley, 1739
Music: Easter Hymn, composer unknown, 1708
Charles Wesley wrote this song for the first worship service at the Wesleyan Chapel in London. It remains one of the most popular Easter hymns in the English language. The alleluias were later added to fit the music.
Charles Wesley (1707-1788) was the son of an English clergyman. In his late twenties he was ordained as an Anglican priest. A few years later, after a religious experience, he had a keen desire to spread the gospel to ordinary people, and he began to write hymns. He was forced to resign from his position at St. Mary’s Church because of his evangelical preaching. He and his brother John began preaching in open fields and eventually founded the movement which became the Methodist denomination. Charles wrote over six thousand hymns, including Come, Thou Almighty King; Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus; Love Divine, All Loves Excelling; O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing; and Rejoice, the Lord Is King.
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Christ the Lord Is Risen Today
Words: Charles Wesley, 1739
Music: Easter Hymn, composer unknown, 1708
Verse 1
Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia!
Sons of men and angels say, Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!
Sing ye heav’ns, and earth reply, Alleluia!
Verse 2
Love’s redeeming work is done, Alleluia!
Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!
Lo! Our sun’s eclipse is o’er, Alleluia!
Lo! He sets in blood no more, Alleluia!
Verse 3
Vain the stone, the watch, the seal, Alleluia!
Christ has burst the gates of hell, Alleluia!
Death in vain forbids His rise, Alleluia!
Christ has opened paradise, Alleluia!
Verse 4
Lives again our glorious king, Alleluia!
Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!
Once he died our souls to save, Alleluia!
Where thy victory, O grave? Alleluia!
Verse 5
Soar we now, where Christ has led, Alleluia!
Following our exalted head, Alleluia!
Made like Him, like Him we rise, Alleluia!
Ours the cross—the grave—the skies, Alleluia!
Verse 6
What tho’ once we perished all, Alleluia!
Partners in our parents’ fall, Alleluia!
Second life we all receive, Alleluia!
In our heav’nly Adam live, Alleluia!
Verse 7
Ris’n with Him, we upward move, Alleluia!
Still we seek the things above, Alleluia!
Still pursue, and kiss the Son, Alleluia!
Seated on His Father’s throne, Alleluia!
Verse 8
Scarce on earth a thought bestow, Alleluia!
Dead to all we leave below, Alleluia!
Heav’n our aim, and loved abode, Alleluia!
Hid our life with Christ in God, Alleluia!
Verse 9
Hid till Christ our life appear, Alleluia!
Glorious in His members here, Alleluia!
Joined to Him, we then shall shine, Alleluia!
All immortal, all divine, Alleluia!
Verse 10
Hail the Lord of earth and Heaven, Alleluia!
Praise to Thee by both be given, Alleluia!
Thee we greet triumphant now, Alleluia!
Hail the resurrection Thou, Alleluia!
Verse 11
King of Glory, Soul of Bliss, Alleluia!
Everlasting life is this, Alleluia!
Thee to know, Thy power to prove, Alleluia! Thus to sing, and thus to love, Alleluia!