3 Yet soon reviving plants and flowers
Anew shall deck the plain;

The woods shall hear the voice of spring,
And flourish green again.

4 So, to the dreary grave consigned,
Man sleeps in death's dark gloom,
Till the eternal morning wake
The slumbers of the tomb.

50

may the grave become to us
The bed of peaceful rest,

Whence we shall gladly rise at length,

And mingle with the blest.

HYMN 202. L. P. M. [#]

Life, Death, and Resurrection.

1 ETERNAL GOD, how frail is man!
Few are the hours, and short the span,
Between the cradle and the grave:
Who can prolong his vital breath?
Who from the bold demands of death
Hath skill to fly, or power to save?

;

2 But let no murmuring heart complain,
That, therefore, man is made in vain,
Nor the Creator's grace distrust
For though his servants; day by day,
Go to their graves, and turn to clay,
A bright reward attends the just.
3 Jesus hath made thy purpose known,
A new and better life hath shown,
And we the glorious tidings hear:

Eternal praises to the Lord,
That we can read his holy word,
And find a resurrection there.

HYMN 203. P. M. [#]
Hymn for Easter.

1 LIFT your glad voices in triumph on high, For Jesus hath risen, and man cannot die : Vain were the terrors that gathered around him, And short the dominion of death and the grave; He burst from the fetters of darkness that bound him,

Resplendent in glory, to live and to save:

Loud was the chorus of angels on high,—
The Saviour hath risen, and man shall not die.

2 Glory to God in full anthems of joy,

The being he gave us death cannot destroy : Sad were the life we must part with to-morrow, If tears were our birthright, and death were our

end;

But Jesus hath cheered the dark valley of sorrow,
And bade us, immortal, to heaven ascend:

Lift, then, your voices in triumph on high,
For Jesus hath risen, and man shall not die.

EMPIRE OF CHRIST.

HYMN 204. H. M. [#]

Christ Victorious.

1 ALL hail, redeeming Lord!
The wondrous things foretold
Of thee, in sacred writ,

With joy our eyes behold:

Still does thy arm new trophies wear,
And monuments of glory rear.

2 To thee the hoary head

Its silver honours pays;
To thee the blooming youth
Devotes his brightest days;
All ages grateful tributes bring,
And bow to thee, all-conquering King.
3 O haste, triumphant Prince,
That happy, glorious day,
When souls, like drops of dew,
Shall own thy gentle sway;

O, may it bless our longing eyes,
And bear our shouts beyond the skies!

4 All hail, ascended Lord!

Eternal be thy reign;

Behold the nations sue

To wear thy gentle chain :

When earth and time are known no more, Thy throne shall stand forever sure.

HYMN 205. L. M. [#]

Kingdom of Christ.

1 GREAT God, whose universal sway
The known and unknown worlds obey,
Extend the kingdom of thy Son,
Display his power, exalt his throne.
2 As rain on meadows newly mown
Shall Jesus send his blessings down:
His grace on fainting souls distils
Like heavenly dew on thirsty hills.
3 The heathen lands, that lie beneath
The shades of overspreading death,
Revive amid his dawning light,
And deserts blossom at the sight.

4 The saints shall flourish in his days,
Dressed in the robes of joy and praise;
Peace, like a river, from his throne,
Shall flow to nations yet unknown.

HYMN 206. H. M. [#]
Empire of Righteousness.

1 COME, sing a Saviour's power,
And praise his mighty name; ...
His wondrous love adore,

And chant his growing fame :
Wide o'er the world a King shall reign,
And righteousness and peace maintain.

2 The sceptre of his grace

He shall forever wield;

His foes, before his face,

To strength divine shall yield:

The conquest of his truth shall show
What an almighty arm can do.

3 His alienated sons,

By sin beguiled, betrayed,
Shall then be born at once,

And willing subjects made:
Such numbers shall his courts adorn,
As dew-drops of the vernal morn.

4 His realm shall ever stand,
By liberal things upheld,
And, from his bounteous hand,
All hearts with joy be filled;

A universe with praise shall own
The countless honours of his throne.

HYMN 207. C. M. [#]
Reign of Christ.

1 JESUS his empire shall extend ;
Beneath his gentle sway

Kings of the earth shall humbly bend,
And his commands obey.

2 From sea to sea, from shore to shore, All nations shall be blest:

We hear the noise of war no more;
He gives his people rest.

3 As rain descends in gentle showers
In each returning spring,

Awakes to life the fragrant flowers,
And makes creation sing,-