1
Beneath the cross of Jesus
I fain would take my stand,
The shadow of a mighty Rock
Within a weary land;
A home within the wilderness,
A rest upon the way,
From the burning of the noontide heat,
And the burden of the day.
I fain would take my stand,
The shadow of a mighty Rock
Within a weary land;
A home within the wilderness,
A rest upon the way,
From the burning of the noontide heat,
And the burden of the day.
2
Oh, safe and happy shelter!
Oh, refuge tried and sweet!
Oh, trysting place where heaven's love
And heaven's justice meet.
As to the holy patriarch
That wondrous dream was given,
So is my Savior by the cross
A ladder up to heaven.
Oh, refuge tried and sweet!
Oh, trysting place where heaven's love
And heaven's justice meet.
As to the holy patriarch
That wondrous dream was given,
So is my Savior by the cross
A ladder up to heaven.
3
There lies beneath its shadow,
But on the farther side,
The darkness of an awful grave
That gapes both deep and wide;
And there between us stands the cross,
Two arms outstretched to save,
Like a watchman set to guard the way
From that eternal grave.
But on the farther side,
The darkness of an awful grave
That gapes both deep and wide;
And there between us stands the cross,
Two arms outstretched to save,
Like a watchman set to guard the way
From that eternal grave.
4
Upon that cross of Jesus
Mine eye at times can see
The very dying form of One,
Who suffered there for me;
And from my smitten heart, with tears,
Two wonders I confess,
The wonders of His glorious love,
And my own worthlessness.
Mine eye at times can see
The very dying form of One,
Who suffered there for me;
And from my smitten heart, with tears,
Two wonders I confess,
The wonders of His glorious love,
And my own worthlessness.
5
I take, O cross, thy shadow
For my abiding place;
I ask no other sunshine than
The sunshine of His face;
Content to let the world go by,
To know no gain nor loss,
My sinful self my only shame,
My glory all the cross.
For my abiding place;
I ask no other sunshine than
The sunshine of His face;
Content to let the world go by,
To know no gain nor loss,
My sinful self my only shame,
My glory all the cross.
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Northwood, Ohio, United States
I was going to sleep tonight, praying for our Great Land, the United States of America and our Dear President who has tried and tried to keep us safe. As iI closed my eyes to sleep, I remembered this beautiful song. Content to let the world go by. To know no gain or loss. My sinful self my only shame. My glory all the cross. I know our Lord has a wonderful plan for every soul , so tonight I'll rest in knowing , how much He loves each and every one. Amen 🙏🏻
West Columbia, South Carolina, United States
After a life of selfishness I found this great song again. What a wonderful and comforting song for my heart. The last two lines brings me great peace. No loss - no gain only Jesus. Wow
Monument, CO, United States
Earl: another look at ""My sinful self my only shame" but don't understand the last line "My glory all the cross". My mind wants it to say "MY glory on the cross".
In this context Earl, the symbolism is that Jesus has become one with the cross. The ultimate humiliation. Jesus likely hung fully naked, his body raked with blood, with cuts. We look at this cross, which hung our savior, and recognize that Jesus' only purpose there was to suffer our sins. The nails, the thorns, the whippings are the physical manifestations of our sins. We recognize that we put him there.
Placing ourselves beneath the cross of Jesus is the ultimate facing of our true selves, and our acknowledgement.
Phoenix, AZ, United States
Before I went to bed tonight I just had to listen to this! My glory all the Cross!
Dimapur, Nagaland, India
This song has been my comfort from thr first time I got to listen. wherever I go, I sing this song with whoever knows this song!!
Pacific Grove, CA, United States
I believe your rendition of the last lines of verse 4 are incorrect. It should read: "two wonders I confess, the wonders of His glorious love, and my unworthiness. ”
Regardless, thanks for keeping these great hymns alive!
United States
Elizabeth Cecilia Douglas Clephane, ( 1830-1869) one of the few women writers of Scotland, was born Edinburgh but grew up in Melrose, Scotland in the area of Abbotsford, near the old bridge described by the famous Scottish writer Sir Walter Scott, in his book ‘The Abbot and the Monastery’.
Her father was a county sheriff and her mother a descendant of the famous Douglas family. Elizabeth was one of three sisters but she suffered physical frailties. Even despite her limitations she ( and her sisters) served the poor and sick of her community. Elizabeth was affectionately well known in her community as “The Sunbeam. ” She enjoyed writing poems and had several published in a Scottish Presbyterian Magazine called the ‘Family Treasury. ’ However the majority of these poems appeared anonymously in this magazine in 1872, three years after her early death at age 39.
“Beneath the Cross of Jesus” was written by Elizabeth in 1868, one year before her death. It was not published until 1872, when it appeared anonymously in the ‘Family Treasury’ with several of her other poems. The original poem consisted of five stanzas but today only three are used in most hymnals. Her hymns are filled with Biblical symbolism and imagery.
Cape Town, South Africa
Last line :
"my glory all the cross" is old style English meaning all (or any) glory I may share is on account of the Cross.
Yuma, AZ, United States
Many of the old hymns contain timeless truths which are relevant for today. This is one of them. The Cross of Christ- the dividing line between Eternal Life and eternal death.
Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
'The shadow of a mighty rock within a weary land' These words have a special relevance in today's world, lacking as it does, any Godly leadership and yet much weariness. Thank God for the Cross of Jesus and His abiding love and grace!