'Surely 'tis the Son of God!'
Thus the Roman soldier spoke
As the earth on which he trod
Trembled, and the lightnings broke
Through a mid-day darkness-when
Jesus on the cross His breath
Yielded up for mortal men,
Triumphing o'er sin and death.
'Surely 'tis the Son of God!'
Shall our grateful hearts repeat,
While along life's rugged road
Hopes, ineffable and sweet,
From that cross in glory beam:
In our grief, and gloom, and care,
Still our thoughts shall turn to him,
Gath'ring peace and comfort there.