Come, You Faithful, Raise the Strain

This hymn, written by John of Damascus (c. 675-749), has been sung in the Church since the middle of the 8th century!  John links Israel's deliverance through the Red Sea (Ex. 15:1-18) with the resurrection of Jesus.  The text progresses until the Church of all time joins in praising God for her deliverance by Jesus' death and resurrection.  The tune, GAUDEAMUS PARITER is 16th-century Bohemian.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjjkXJ37So4  (Higher Things youth gathering)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaFyaPy6NLY (stanzas 1, 3, 5)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbQ_5pzRllM  (stanzas 1-4)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVTjZCDO_A8 (organ setting)

1.

Come, you faithful, raise the strain

    Of triumphant gladness!

God has brought His Israel

    Into joy from sadness,

Loosed from Pharaoh’s bitter yoke

    Jacob’s sons and daughters,

Led them with unmoistened foot

    Through the Red Sea waters.

2. 

’Tis the spring of souls today:

    Christ has burst His prison

And from three days’ sleep in death

    As a sun has risen;

All the winter of our sins,

    Long and dark, is flying

From His light, to whom is giv’n

    Laud and praise undying.

3. 

Now the queen of seasons, bright

    With the day of splendor,

With the royal feast of feasts

    Comes its joy to render;

Comes to gladden faithful hearts

    Which with true affection

Welcome in unwearied strain

    Jesus’ resurrection!

4. 

For today among His own

    Christ appeared, bestowing

His deep peace, which evermore

    Passes human knowing.

Neither could the gates of death

    Nor the tomb’s dark portal

Nor the watchers nor the seal

    Hold Him as a mortal.

5. 

Alleluia! Now we cry

    To our King immortal,

Who, triumphant, burst the bars

    Of the tomb’s dark portal.

Come, you faithful, raise the strain

    Of triumphant gladness!

God has brought His Israel

    Into joy from sadness!