Upon the sixth day of the week The first man had his birth, In God’s own image bright and pure Created from the earth. Upon the sixth day of the week The second Adam died, And by the second Adam’s death Man was revivified. Upon the seventh day of the week God from His works did rest, And on that holy Sabbath day The works of God were blessed. Upon the seventh day of the week Christ in the grave did rest, The grave is now a holy place; A Sabbath for the blest. By tasting the forbidden tree Man fell in Paradise; Upon the tree Christ tasted death, And by His death we rise. Christ in a garden buried lay, Which spring-flowers did adorn; And there our Resurrection bloomed On the bright Easter morn. The grave itself a garden is, Where loveliest flowers abound, For Christ our amaranthine Life Sprang from the holy ground. He by the Spirit once was born Pure from the virgin’s womb, And by the Spirit once again, Born from the virgin tomb. Oh give us grace to die to sin, That we, O Lord, may have A holy, happy rest with Thee, A Sabbath in the grave. O may we buried be with Thee, And with Thee, Lord, arise To an eternal Easter-day Of glory in the skies! |