Church Book ‎#195

195. Jesus Christ, my sure defence

1 Jesus Christ, my sure defense
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, life must waken:
He will have me where He is;
Shall my courage then be shaken?
Shall I fear? Or could the Head
Rise and leave its 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 What now 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.

5 Saviour, draw away our heart
Now from pleasures base and hollow,
Let us there with Thee have part,
Here on earth Thy foot-steps follow.
Fix our hearts beyond the skies,
Whither we ourselves would rise.

Text Information

• First Line: Jesus Christ, my sure defence
• German Title: Jesus, meine Zuversicht
• Translator: Miss Winkworth (1862)
• Author: Louisa Henrietta of Brandenburg (1649)
• Meter: 7, 8, 7.
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1890
• Topic: Easter; Lent, Third Sunday; Easter Sunday; Easter Season, Second Sunday; Easter Season, Fourth Sunday; Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity; Twenty Fourth Sunday after Trinity
• Notes: Alternate tune: #230

Tune Information

• Name: JESUS, MEINE ZUVERSICHT
• Meter: 7, 8, 7.
• Key: C Major
• Notes: Composer from index: Joh. Crüger, 1658