Stand Up for Jesus

Dudley Atkins Tyng was an Episcopal priest who had been deposed from his rectorship in Philadelphia for being an abolitionist.

At a YMCA revival in March 1858, Tyng preached on Exodus 10.11 which in the King James Version is rendered:

“Go now ye that are men, and serve the Lord.”

Over 1,000 men responded to the altar call.

A month later, Tyng died from a farming accident at age 33. His dying words were:

“Tell my brethren of the ministry . . . to stand up for Jesus.”

Tyng’s friend, Presbyterian minister George Duffield, Jr., reflected years later:

“As he had been much persecuted in those pro-slavery days for his persistent course in pleading the cause of the oppressed, it was thought that these words had a peculiar significance in his mind; as if he had said, ‘Stand up for Jesus in the person of the downtrodden slave.’”

At Tyng’s memorial, Duffield preached on Ephesians 6.14:

“Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness.”

Here are Duffield's lyrics inspired by Tyng:

Stand up, stand up for Jesus
ye soldiers of the cross
Lift high His royal banner
it must not suffer loss
From victory unto victory
His army shall He lead
Till every foe is vanquished
and Christ is Lord indeed

Stand up, stand up for Jesus
the solemn watchword hear
If while ye sleep He suffers
away with shame and fear
Where’er ye meet with evil
within you or without
charge for the God of battles
and put the foe to rout

Stand up, stand up for Jesus
the trumpet call obey
Forth to the mighty conflict
in this His glorious day
Ye that are brave now serve Him
against unnumbered foes
Let courage rise with danger
and strength to strength oppose

Stand up, stand up for Jesus
stand in His strength alone
The arm of flesh will fail you
ye dare not trust your own
Put on the Gospel armor
each piece put on with prayer
Where duty calls or danger
be never wanting there

Stand up, stand up for Jesus
each soldier to his post
Close up the broken column
and shout through all the host
Make good the loss so heavy
in those that still remain
And prove to all around you
that death itself is gain

Stand up, stand up for Jesus
the strife will not be long
This day the noise of battle
the next the victor’s song
To him who overcometh
a crown of life shall be
They with the King of Glory
shall reign eternally

Lyrics: George Duffield 1858; Tune: Tis Dawn, the Lark is Singing by George Webb 1837, based on Die Forelle (The Trout) by Franz Schubert 1817.