The Wondrous Cross

1) 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.

2) 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.

3) 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?

{Fun Fact: This next verse is often omitted in print, a tradition that started with George Whitfield. It is pretty graphic.}

4) 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.

5) 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.

So it took me 17 days to get to a hymn by Isaac Watts.  My fault.  "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross" carries the reputation of the greatest hymn in the English language.  Watts, the "Father of English Hymnody" wrote this hymn to go with a communion service.  Part of Watts' pastoral ministry is that he would simply write hymns for worship to go along with his sermons or whatever the church was doing.  This was radical at the time.  Most worship up in reformed churches consisted of just singing the Psalms (At some point, I'm sure I will talk about the Regulative Principle of Worship, just not today).  Still, can you imagine your pastor saying, "To go with the sermon I wrote this week, we are going to sing these hymns I also wrote this week." Charles Wesley reportedly stated that he would have given up all his other hymns to have written this one.  It's such a beautiful hymn that nails the essence of Christianity.  Rich in imagery, rich in love, rich in worship.  I really don't have anything to add or commentary to make. I just want to listen and sing.

Here are a few links to listen to:
Here is the Hour of Power Nordic Choir
Here is a solo performance by Kathryn Scott
Here is an acapella version by a Lutheran Quartet