Wednesday, November 23, 2005

When I survey the wondrous Cross


I've sang this hymm before but it was a long time ago and I wasn't exactly a big fan of hymms. In fact, I've forgotten about this hymm UNTIL last sunday, when I sang it again in church...I felt as if I'm singing it for the first time and I could not explain how much it touched my soul this time.

And I know it's not just mere music or feelings but the Truth in every line written. Even re-reading the lines now made tears formed in my tiny eyes. I wondered what made Issac Watts (1707) wrote this hymm during his lifetime? ...with music from Lowell Mason (1824). And Charles Wesley was reported saying that he would give up all his other hymms to have written this one.

They must have understood greatly what the Cross meant to them...something which I still fail at times but am yearning to fully grasp

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood.

See from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down!
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

His dying crimson, like a robe,
Spreads o’er His body on the tree;
Then I am dead to all the globe,
And all the globe is dead to me.

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.


[Added by the compilers of Hymns An­cient and Mo­dern]

To Christ, Who won for sinners grace
By bitter grief and anguish sore,
Be praise from all the ransomed race
Forever and forevermore.

3 comments:

SATheologies said...

Yea, that's a very nice hymns

Leon Jackson said...

I like the way he concludes

"Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all"

The great sight and reality is expensive, and consumes us.

enn@j said...

yea leon,

It was that line which 'captured' my soul too :)