Old Rugged Cross

I am in Florida for the week so I picked a hymn that reminds me of my childhood here. This hymn was written in 1913 by George Bennard. He wrote this hymn after experiencing some sort of trial, reflecting on Paul's teachings about suffering. He was convinced (and rightly so) that the cross was not merely a religious symbol, but the heart of the gospel.

The Old Rugged Cross
Text & Music: George Bennard

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suffering and shame;
And I love that old cross where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.

O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
Has a wondrous attraction for me;
For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above
To bear it to dark Calvary.

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.

In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
A wondrous beauty I see,
For ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
To pardon and sanctify me.

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.

To the old rugged cross I will ever be true;
Its shame and reproach gladly bear;
Then He’ll call me some day to my home far away,
Where His glory forever I’ll share.

There is a Fountain

Well, it's Thursday once again. This week Hannah Dyk requested the hymn I will post. It was written by a man named William Cowper, who spent most of his life with physical and mental ailments which caused him a great amount of pain. He was taken in by John Newton (the former slave-trader who wrote Amazing Grace) who gave him work he could accomplish despite his illnesses. He built for Cowper a study garden where he could be alone and enjoy nature and write poems. Newton encouraged Cowper to write hymns for weekly prayer meetings. Together they wrote the Olney book of hymns. This hymn, There is a Fountain, is Cowper's most well known. If you want to read more about William Cowper, click here (it's where I got this info).

There is a Fountain
Text: William Cowper
Music: Lowell Mason

There is a fountain filled with blood
Drawn from Immanuel's veins,
And sinners plunged beneath that flood
Lose all their guilty stains:
Lose all their guilty stains,
Lose all their guilty stains;
And sinners plunged beneath that flood
Lose all their guilty stains.

The dying thief rejoiced to see
That fountain in his day,
And there may I, though vile as he,
Wash all my sins away:
Wash all my sins away,
Wash all my sins away;
And there may I, though vile as he,
Wash all my sins away.

Dear dying Lamb, Thy precious blood
Shall never lose its pow'r
Till all the ransomed Church of God
Be saved to sin no more:
Be saved to sin no more,
Be saved to sin no more;
Till all the ransomed Church of God
Be saved to sin no more.

E'er since by faith I saw the stream
Thy flowing wounds supply,
Redeeming love has been my theme
And shall be till I die:
And shall be till I die,
And shall be till I die;
Redeeming love has been my theme
And shall be till I die.

When this poor lisping, stamm'ring tongue
Lies silent in the grave,
Then in a nobler, sweeter song
I'll sing Thy pow'r to save:
I'll sing Thy pow'r to save,
I'll sing Thy pow'r to save;
And in a nobler, sweeter song
I'll sing Thy pow'r to save.