Hark! A Voice Divides the Sky
Words:Charles Wesley, 1742
Music:Marcus Wells, 1858.

Hark! A voice divides the sky, happy are the faithful dead!
In the Lord who sweetly die, they from all their toils are freed;
Them the Spirit hath declared blessed, unutterably blessed;
Jesus is their great reward, Jesus is their endless rest.

Followed by their works, they go where their Head has gone before;
Reconciled by grace below, grace has opened mercy's door;
Justified through faith alone, here they knew their sins forgiv'n,
Here they laid their burden down, hallowed, and made fit for Heav'n.

Who can now lament the lot of a saint in Christ deceased?
Let the world, who know us not, call us hopeless and unblessed:
When from flesh the spirit freed hastens homeward to return,
Mortals cry, A man is dead! Angels sing, A child is born!

Born into the world above, they our happy brother greet,
Bear him to the throne of love, place him at the Savior's feet;
Jesus smiles, and says, Well done, good and faithful servant thou;
Enter, and receive thy crown, reign with Me triumphant now.

Angels catch th'approving sound, bow, and bless the just award;
Hail the heir with glory crowned, now rejoicing with his Lord:
Fuller joys ordained to know, waiting for the general doom,
When th'archangel's trump shall blow, Rise, ye dead, to judgment come!

