Hymn Book: for the use of Evangelical Lutheran schools and congregations 30. Jesus Christ, my sure Defence

Hymn Book‎#30

Text:	Jesus Christ, my sure Defence
Author:	Louisa Henrietta of Brandenburg

30. Jesus Christ, my sure Defence

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1 Jesus Christ, my sure Defence
And my Saviour, ever liveth;
Knowing this, my confidence
Rests upon the hope it giveth,
Though the night of death be fraught
Still with many an anxious thought.

2 Jesus, my Redeemer, lives;
I, too, unto life must waken;
Endless joys my Saviour gives;
Shall my courage then be shaken?
Shall I fear? or could the Head
Rise and leave His members dead?

3 Nay, too closely am I bound
Unto Him by hope for ever;
Faith's strong hand the Rock hath found,
Grasped it, and will leave it never;
Not the ban of death can part
From its Lord the trusting heart.

4 I am only flesh and blood,
And on this corruption seizeth,
But I know, my Lord and God
From the grave my body raiseth,
That with him eternally
In His glory I may be.

5 Glorified I shall again
Be with this my skin enshrouded,
In my body I shall then
See the Lord with eyes unclouded,
I in this my flesh shall see
Jesus Christ eternally.

6 I shall see Him with these eyes,
And shall know my Lord and Saviour,
Not another shall I rise,
I shall see and love Him ever;
Only there shall disappear
Weakness in and round me here.

7 What here sickens, mourns, and sighs,
Christ with Him in glory bringeth;
Earthly is the seed, and dies,
Heavenly from the grave it springeth;
Natural is the death we die
Spiritual, our life on High.

8 Then take comfort, nay, rejoice,
For His members Christ will cherish;
Fear not, they will hear His voice,
Though awhile they seem to perish,
When the final trump is heard,
And the deaf, cold grave is stirred.

9 Laugh to scorn the gloomy grave,
And at death no longer tremble,
For the Lord who comes to save,
Round Him shall His saints assemble,
Raising them o'er all their foes,
Mortal weakness, fear, and woes.

10 Only draw away your heart
Now from pleasures base and hollow;
Would ye there with Christ have part,
Here His footsteps ye must follow;
Fix your heart beyond the skies,
Whither ye yourselves would rise!