Jesus, keep me near the cross

Our Christian life altogether depends on two things: the cross and the life-giving Spirit. The significance of the cross is of two aspects: the aspect of redemption and the aspect of life. Christianity knows only the shallow aspect of redemption. Stanza 1 of Hymns, #1059 says,

Jesus, keep me near the cross,
There a precious fountain,
Free to all—a healing stream,
Flows from Calv'ry's mountain.
In the cross, in the cross,
Be my glory ever;

Richer, sweeter life doth gain.

We can compare these hymns by A. B. Simpson to hymn #1059, another hymn on knowing the cross of Christ. The first verse and the chorus say:

Jesus, keep me near the cross,
There a precious fountain,
Free to all—a healing stream,
Flows from Calv'ry's mountain.
In the cross, in the cross,
Be my glory ever;

This truth in Galatians is not conveyed in hymn #1059. This hymn was written before A. B. Simpson's writings. At the time it was written, the revelation concerning the Lord's subjectiveness was not that deep. It is a good hymn, but it is obvious that the hymns by Brother Simpson are of a much higher standard.