Hymn History Beneath the Cross of Jesus

  • May 29, 2011
  • 328
                        
Beneath the Cross of Jesus 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. O safe and happy shelter, O refuge tried and sweet, O trysting place where Heaven’s love and Heaven’s justice meet! As to the holy patriarch that wondrous dream was given, So seems my Savior’s cross to me, a ladder up to heaven. There lies beneath its shadow but on the further 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 A watchman set to guard the way from that eternal grave. 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 stricken heart with tears two wonders I confess; The wonders of redeeming love and my unworthiness. 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 or loss, My sinful self my only shame, my glory all the cross. Elizabeth C. Clephane (1830-1869) Elizabeth Clephane was the third daughter of Andrew Clephane who was a Sheriff in Scottland in the town of Melrose. She lived most of her life in Scotland, about 30 miles southeast of Edinburgh. She was very generous and spent most of her money on charitable causes. Because of this she was known locally as “The Sunbeam.” A Scottish Presbyterian magazine called the, “Family Treasury”, published several of her hymns throughout time and in 1872 the magazine editor W. Arnot wrote how great this particular had touched him.


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