1 If Jesus rose not from the grave,
The faith of all His saints is vain:
That He can have no power to save,
If death detains Him still, is plain.
2 If Jesus rose not from the grave,
We’re guilty still, our sins remain:
The hope is vain His people have;
If Jesus rose not, hope is vain.
3 If Jesus rose not from the grave,
His foes were right in all they said:
For He to all assurance gave
That He would rise, and leave the dead.
4 If Jesus rose not from the grave,
Then all He said was empty boast:
His claims no good foundation have;
And they who sleep in Him are lost.
If Jesus rose not from the grave,
The thief that perished by His side,
As just a claim as He would have,
To be the sinner’s hope and guide.
5 But now is Jesus risen indeed:
The first fruits He of those who sleep:
Rejoice ye saints, the Prisoner’s freed;
For who could such a prisoner keep?
6 He fought with Death, the saints’ last foe:
And though He seemed to lose the day,
’Twas Death sustained the overthrow,
Subdued by Him who seemed his prey.
7 Doubt then no more, ye saints, nor grieve
The Lord is risen, is risen indeed;
Because He lives, His saints shall live:
Shall live with Him, their glorious head.
8 He sits at God’s right hand above,
The dread of foes, the joy of friends;
Supreme in power, in truth, in love,
His kingdom, one that never ends.
9 The glorious day is drawing near,
When He who lay in yonder tomb,
With crowds of angels shall appear,
And take His waiting people home.
Source: The Cyber Hymnal #9603
Kelly, Thomas, B.A., son of Thomas Kelly, a Judge of the Irish Court of Common Pleas, was born in Dublin, July 13, 1769, and educated at Trinity College, Dublin. He was designed for the Bar, and entered the Temple, London, with that intention; but having undergone a very marked spiritual change he took Holy Orders in 1792. His earnest evangelical preaching in Dublin led Archbishop Fowler to inhibit him and his companion preacher, Rowland Hill, from preaching in the city. For some time he preached in two unconsecrated buildings in Dublin, Plunket Street, and the Bethesda, and then, having seceded from the Established Church, he erected places of worship at Athy, Portarlington, Wexford, &c, in which he conducted divine worship and preached. H… Go to person page >
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