Look, ye saints! The sight is glorious!
See the Man of Sorrows now,
From the fight returned victorious;
Every knee to Him shall bow.
Crown Him, crown Him!
Crowns become the Victor’s brow.
Crown the Saviour; angels crown Him;
Rich the trophies Jesus brings;
In the seat of power enthrone Him,
While the vault of Heaven rings.
Crown Him, crown Him!
Crown the Saviour King of kings!
Sinners in derision crowned Him,
Mocking thus the Saviour’s claim;
Saints and angels crowd around Him,
Own His title, praise His name.
Crown Him, crown Him!
Spread abroad the Victor’s fame!
Hark, those bursts of acclamation!
Hark, those loud triumphant chords!
Jesus takes the highest station;
Oh, what joy the sight affords!
Crown Him, crown Him!
King of kings and Lord of lords!
A triumphant Easter hymn! Although we may sing it on Easter Sunday, it is also considered to be about Christ’s ascension, forty days after His resurrection. The author, Thomas Kelly, was an Irish minister who wrote over 750 hymns, and some call him “the Isaac Watts of Ireland”. He began studying law as a young man, but after a book motivated him to study Hebrew, he grew more interested in the Scriptures and took up theology instead. He was ordained in 1792 as an Anglican minister and became a friend of evangelist Rowland Hill. We Salvationists have heard that our founder, William Booth, once asked, “Why should the devil have all the good tunes?” However, this quote originated with Rowland Hill, known for lively music in his outdoor services.
Because zealous outdoor evangelism was not respected in the Anglican Church of that time, Thomas Kelly was suspended from ministry and forbidden to preach, so he became a “Dissenter”. Kelly became known for passionate sermons and a winning personality, as well as work among the poor, as he continued to minister in Dublin all his life, becoming a local hero.
