Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing

It is an unfortunate turn of events when a young boy is forced to grow up without a loving father. Thus was Robert Robinson’s fate, writer of "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing." His dad passed away when he was only eight years of age. Robinson was born in 1735, to Mary Wilkin and Michael Robinson, a customs officer, in Swaffham in the county of Norfolk, a market town and civil parish in the English countryside.

To make Robinson’s circumstances much more difficult, his maternal grandfather, Robert Wilkin, a wealthy man, who had never reconciled himself to his daughter’s lowly marriage, disinherited his grandson and provided an inheritance for him of only ten shillings and sixpence.

In 18th century England, there was little in the way of a social welfare system, and this meant that he had to go to work while very young. Robinson’s uncle, a farmer, had sponsored Robinson’s attendance at a school in Scarning, Norfolk, under Rev. Joseph Brett. When he was fourteen, Robinson was sent to London as apprentice to Joseph Anderson, a hairdresser.

However, his knowledge was varied and extensive because he spent many hours in study. There was an adult-like quality deeply ingrained in him, and it allowed him to accept the responsibilities of adulthood, even as a teenager.

Without a father, though, to guide and steady him, Robert fell in with bad companions. At the age of seventeen he ran the streets of London in gangs, caring not for anything spiritual.

One day his gang of rowdies harassed a drunken gypsy. Pouring liquor into her, they demanded she tell their fortunes for free. Pointing her finger at Robert, she told him he would live to see his children and grandchildren. This struck a tender spot in his heart. “If I’m going to live to see my children and grandchildren,” he thought, “I’ll have to change my way of living. I can’t keep on like I’m going now.”

A few nights later, Robinson, half serious and half in fun, decided to go to a tent meeting to hear the Methodist preacher, George Whitefield. He suggested that the boys go with him and heckle the gathering. “Let’s go laugh at the deluded Methodists” was his invitation to his gang.

Whitefield preached on the text: “O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” Matthew 3:7. Robert left in dread, under a deep sense that George Whitefield was preaching to him alone.

Apparently, that was the planting of the seeds that would change his life. Another three years would pass before he accepted Christ into his heart, on December 10. 1755. Robinson found what he described as “full and free forgiveness through the precious blood of Jesus Christ.” The transformation was profound. The once-rowdy youth now burned with a desire to know and serve God. He traveled across England, soaking in the words of the finest gospel preachers of his day.

It was in this period of spiritual fervor, at the young age of 22, that Robinson penned the words that would touch hearts for centuries to come.

After accepting Christ, Robinson felt the call and entered the ministry, teaching himself. He served Calvinist Methodist Chapel, Norfolk, England and a Baptist church in Cambridge, England. He wrote various hymns and theological books during his career.

Robert’s spiritual path took many turns. He moved between denominations, serving as a Methodist preacher, then working with Independents, before settling for nearly thirty years as a Baptist pastor.

At one time His faith wavered, and he grappled with periods of instability and doubt. A story is told that Robinson wandered away from God. "In a spiritually backslidden condition, Robert was traveling in a stagecoach one day. His only companion was a young woman unknown to him. In the providence of God, and not realizing who it was she spoke with, the woman quoted 'Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing,' saying what an encouragement it had been to her.

"Try as he might, Robinson could not get her to change the subject. She asked him what he thought of the hymn she was humming. He responded, 'Madam, I am the poor, unhappy man who wrote that hymn many years ago, and I would give a thousand worlds, if I had them, to enjoy the feelings I had then.' Gently, she replied, 'Sir, the ‘streams of mercy’ are still flowing.' He was deeply touched by that. As a result of the encounter he repented. His fellowship with the Lord was restored through the ministry of his own hymn, and a Christian’s willing witness."

Whether or not that stagecoach encounter truly happened, it encapsulates the enduring power of “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing.” The hymn speaks to the universal Christian experience of joy in salvation, coupled with the ongoing struggle against our sinful nature.

Robert Robinson’s life – from wayward youth to celebrated preacher, from devoted believer to doubtful wanderer – is a reminder of the very truths he penned. His words continue to resound in churches around the world, a reminder that no matter how far we stray, the Fount of every blessing calls us back.

Verse One

“Come, Thou fount of every blessing,

Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;

Streams of mercy, never ceasing,

Call for songs of loudest praise.

Teach me some melodious sonnet,

Sung by flaming tongues above;

Praise the mount-I’m fixed upon it,

Mount of Thy redeeming love.”

Hebrew 12:22

“But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly.”

Studylight.org, Barnes’ Notes on the Whole Bible:  Heaven is represented as a magnificent city where God and angels dwelt; and the Christian revelation discloses this to Christians as certainly their final home. They should regard themselves already as dwellers in that city, and live and act as if they saw its splendor and partook of its joy . . . It is true that Christians have not yet seen that city by the physical eye, but they look to it with the eye of faith. It is revealed to them; they are permitted by anticipation to contemplate its glories, and to feel that it is to be their eternal home. They are permitted to live and act as if they saw the glorious God whose dwelling is there and were already surrounded by the angels and the redeemed. The apostle does not represent them as if they were expecting that it would be visibly set up on the earth, but as being now actually dwellers in that city, and bound to live and act as if they were amidst its splendors.

Proverbs 18:15

“The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out.”

Biblehub.com, Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary: The well-spring of wisdom in the heart of a believer, continually supplies words of wisdom . . . The Divine power, made known in and through our Lord Jesus Christ, forms a strong tower for the believer, who relies on the Lord.

Verse Two

“Here I raise my Ebenezer;

Hither by Thy help I’m come;

And I hope, by Thy good pleasure,

Safely to arrive at home.

Jesus sought me when a stranger,

Wandering from the fold of God;

He, to rescue me from danger,

1 Samuel 7:12

“Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, ‘Thus far the Lord has helped us.’”

Studylight.org, Gill’s Exposition of the Whole Bible: And Samuel took a stone, and set it, not for worship, but as a monument of the victory obtained by the help of God: and this he placed between Mizpeh and Shen; which latter signifies a tooth, and designs the precipice of a rock which juts out, and hangs over in the form of one: and called the name of it Ebenezer; which signifies "the stone of help"; and is the same place which by anticipation has this name, so that in the selfsame place where the Israelites were twice beaten by the Philistines, and the ark taken, was this salvation wrought for them.

Verse Three

“O to grace how great a debtor,

Daily I’m constrained to be.

Let Thy goodness like a fetter,

Bind my wand’ring heart to Thee.

Prone to wander, Lord I feel it,

Prone to leave the God I love.

Here’s my heart, Lord, take and seal it.

Proverbs 3:3

“Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.”

Enduringword.com, David Guzik: Solomon wisely told his son to keep God’s loyal love and truth close. They should be so close that it would be as if they were a necklace on him at all times (bind them around your neck) and written on the tablet of your heart . . . “Striking expressions for glorying in, meditating on and acting by these principles.” (Kidner) “By ‘binding’ and ‘writing’ the teacher is stressing that the teachings become a part of the disciple’s nature.” (Ross)

  

I am indebted to the following resources:

Dianaleaghmatthew.com

Cocdiscipleship.org

Hymncharts.com, Don Chapman

Enjoyingthejourney.org, Micah Hendry

En.wikipedia.org

By His Grace . . .

 

Sweet Hour of Prayer

 

This hymn goes to the heart of one of the most intrinsic Christian practices: prayer. Prayer is an intensely private affair where one seeks refuge from temptations and trials and pours out the depths of one’s soul before God who already knows our “wants and wishes.” Prayer lifts worship and praise to our God and our heartfelt devotion to Him.

The writer of this hymn is unknown for certain. There were two men with the name of William W. Walford in England. The first gentleman, from Coleshill, was an obscure and blind lay preacher who owned a small trinket shop. The second gentleman, from Homerton, was a Congregational minister who served as president of Homerton Academy and wrote several books including The Manner of Prayer. Coleshill and Homerton are two hours apart. They may be one and the same.

Thomas Salmon, a native of New York, spent time in Coleshill, Warwickshire, England.  While visiting there he became acquainted with Walford, and recalled the following:

“During my residence at Coleshill, I became acquainted with W. W. Walford, the blind preacher, a man of obscure birth and connections and no education, but of strong mind and most retentive memory. In the pulpit he never failed to select a lesson well adapted to his subject, giving chapter and verse with unerring precision and scarcely ever misplacing a word in his repetition of the Psalms, every part of the New Testament, the prophecies, and some of the histories, so as to have the reputation of knowing the whole Bible by heart. He actually sat in the chimney corner, employing his mind in composing a sermon or two for Sabbath delivery, and his hands in cutting, shaping and polishing bones for shoehorns and other little useful implements. At intervals he attempted poetry. On one occasion, paying him a visit, he repeated two or three pieces which he had composed, and having no friend at home to commit them to paper, he had laid them up in the storehouse within. ‘How will this do?’ asked he, as he repeated the following lines, with a complacent smile touched with some light lines of fear lest he subject himself to criticism. I rapidly copied the lines with my pencil, as he uttered them.”

Three years later, Salmon returned to the United States.  He showed it to the editor at the New York Observer.  The lyrics of the poem were published.

The text appeared in the 1859 Baptist hymnal Church Melodies, edited by Thomas Hastings and Robert Turnbull. The famous American gospel song writer, William Bradbury (1816-1868)—who composed music for so many beloved gospel hymns such as “Just As I Am”, “The Solid Rock” and “He Leadeth Me” —also wrote the music for this favorite hymn in 1861.

Rev. Salmon died in 1854 and more than likely Walford never knew his poem was even published, much less would become a beloved hymn. Walford seemed to see with his heart.  God used his simple words to become a great hymn that would minister to millions

Regardless of the identity of the author of this text, we must conclude that “Sweet Hour of Prayer” has been greatly used of God for many years to challenge believers with this basis truth—whenever we spend time in communion with God, it becomes a sweet and meaningful hour in our lives.

Verse One

“Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!

That calls me from a world of care,

And bids me at my Father’s throne,

Make all my wants and wishes known.

In seasons of distress and grief,

My soul has often found relief,

And oft escaped the tempter’s snare,

By Thy return, sweet hour of prayer!”

Colossians 4:2

“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.”

Studylight.org, Clarke’s Commentary: This was the apostle's general advice to all; without this, neither wives, husbands, children, parents, servants, nor masters, could fulfil the duties which God, in their respective stations, required of them. All might, power, and life come from God; His creatures are continually dependent upon Him. 

Enduringword.com: Paul supported the Colossian church through his prayers for them. Their life and ministry would continue to prosper through continued vigilance in prayer, including prayer on their part. The ancient Greek word translated continue is “Built on a root meaning ‘to be strong,’” it always connotes earnest adherence to a person or thing. In this passage it implies persistence and fervor.” (Vaughan)

Verse Two

“Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!

The joys I feel, the bliss I share,

Of those whose anxious spirits burn,

With strong desires for Thy return!

With such I hasten to the place,

Where God my Savior shows His face,

And gladly take my station there,

And wait for Thee, sweet hour of prayer!”

James 5:8

“You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.”

Biblehub.com Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary: Consider him that waits for a crop of corn; and will not you wait for a crown of glory? If you should be called to wait longer than the husbandman, is not there something more worth waiting for? In every sense the coming of the Lord drew nigh, and all His people's losses, hardships, and sufferings, would be repaid. Men count time long, because they measure it by their own lives; but all time is as nothing to God; it is as a moment . . . Let us serve our God, and bear our trials, as those who believe that the end will crown all. Our eternal happiness is safe if we trust to Him: all else is mere vanity, which soon will be done with forever.

Verse Three

“Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!

Thy wings shall my petition bear,

To Him whose truth and faithfulness,

Engage the waiting soul to bless.

And since He bids me seek His face,

Believe His Word and trust His grace,

I’ll cast on Him my every care,

And wait for Thee, sweet hour of prayer!”

1 Peter 1:8

“Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy”

Studylight.org, Clarke’s Commentary: Faith in the Lord Jesus brings Him into the heart; and by His indwelling all His virtues are proved, and an excellence discovered beyond even that which His disciples beheld, when conversant with Him upon earth. In short, there is an equality between believers in the present time, and those who lived in the time of the incarnation; for Christ, to a believing soul, is the same today that He was yesterday and will be forever . . . Ye have unutterable happiness through believing; and ye have the fullest, clearest, strongest evidence of eternal glory.

Verse Four

“Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!

May I Thy consolation share,

Till, from Mount Pisgah’s lofty height,

I view my home and take my flight.

This robe of flesh I’ll drop, and rise,

To seize the everlasting prize,

And shout, while passing through the air,

“Farewell, farewell, sweet hour of prayer!”

Philippians 3:14

“I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

Enduringword.com: Paul was focused on one thing and would not let those things which are behind distract him from it. He pressed on for the prize. We often let those things which are behind distract us, whether they be good things or bad things. Looking at what is in the past often keeps us from what God has for us in the future . . . Paul knew that a race is won only in the present moment, not in the past or in the future. I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus: The prize is the upward call of God . . . “It is a high calling because it comes from above, from God; the conception of it has emanated from His heart. It is a high calling because it is worthy of God. It is a high calling because it is so much above the ideals of men . . . And then this is a high calling because it summons us to where Christ sits at the right hand of God.” (Meyer)

Walford finds prayer time valuable as he unleashes his problems and requests to God, finding comfort and relief after he finishes.  Walford proclaims that God calls us to seek and trust Him. He looks forward to the day Jesus comes back and meets Christ in the air, kissing this world goodbye and enjoying eternity with God.

W. W. Walford’s Sweet Hour of Prayer is the perfect example of prayer. It's beautiful poetic form expresses the benefits of prayer, that we can thrust our worries, fears, and requests onto God, receiving joy, comfort, and blessing.  He beckons us to follow God, trusting in His Word, and looks forward to the day that Jesus finally comes back to take us home, bringing Him glory.

It is, indeed, a sweet hour of prayer.

 

I am indebted to the following resources:

Kenneth W. Osbeck, 101 More Hymn Stories

Dianaleaghmatthew.com

Umcdiscipleship.org, Dr. Hawn

Christianity.com

Vince Wright 

 By His Grace . . .

I Will Sing the Wondrous Story

Francis Harold Rowley was born in Hilton, New York on July 25, 1854. His father was a doctor. After graduating from Rochester University, Rowley attended Rochester Theological Seminary in New York and was ordained to the ministry in 1878. Rowley pastored for 30 years in several locations: Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Illinois, Massachusetts and Boston.

Rowley married Ida Amelia Babcock in 1878, and they had four children: John, Alice, Charles, and Esmond.

Around 1908, Rowley became president of the Massachusetts Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, where he served until retirement in 1945. Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, Georgia, named the Rowley School of Humanities after him.

Rowley gives this account of when this hymn was written: “I was min­is­ter of the First Bap­tist Church of North Ad­ams, Mas­sa­chu­setts, in 1886, as near­ly as I can rem­em­ber. The church and the com­mu­ni­ty were ex­pe­ri­enc­ing a pe­ri­od of unu­su­al in­ter­est in re­li­gious mat­ters, and I was as­sist­ed by a fine young sing­er and assistant minister, Pe­ter Bilhorn.

“One night af­ter the close of the ser­vice Peter said, ‘Why don’t you write a hymn for me to set to mu­sic?’ During the night these most un­pre­ten­tious and whol­ly un­wor­thy vers­es came to me.

“Some years ago, as I was go­ing down a Lon­don street one night about ele­ven o’clock, I di­scov­ered ahead of me a group of Sal­va­tion Ar­my peo­ple hold­ing a ser­vice, and as I came near­er to them it oc­curred to me that the hymn they were sing­ing was fa­mil­iar. Then it dawned upon me that it was this one.”

On a trip to Brooklyn, New York, music publisher George Coles Stebbins asked Peter Bilhorn if he had any songs to share and he showed him what we know as “I Will Sing the Wondrous Story.”

Stebbins assisted in harmonizing the song and took him to music publisher Ira Sankey, who was impressed with the song. The two men presented it as a gift to Sankey. The song was published as “I Will Sing the Wonderous Story.” Ira Sankey first published the song in his 1887 edition of Sacred Songs and Solos.

Peter Bilhorn was born in 1861 in Illinois, shortly after his father was killed in the Civil War. He was converted to Christianity by D.L. Moody’s teachings. He reportedly wrote over 2,000 gospel songs and worked for a while with evangelist Billy Sunday, and performed for Queen Victoria at Buckingham Palace. 

Bilhorn also invented a folding pump organ used at revivals in the late 19th Century, and founded the Bilhorn Folding Organ Company in Chicago, Illinois. He died in Los Angeles on December 13, 1936.

Bilhorn wrote the music to “The Best Friend to Have is Jesus.” The refrain reads: “The best friend to have is Jesus, He will help you when you fall, He will hear you when you call; Oh, the best friend to have is Jesus.”

Verse One

“I will sing the wondrous story,

Of the Christ Who died for me;

How He left His home in glory,

For the cross of Calvary.”

 Psalm 107:2

“Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story— those He redeemed from the hand of the foe.”

Biblehub.com, Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible: It seems best to understand it of those who are spiritually redeemed by Christ, this phrase being frequently used of such, who may be said to be so, since Christ is the author of their redemption; they are redeemed, not by themselves, nor by any creature, but by the Lord; who being their God, and near Kinsman, had a right to redeem them, and, being God, was able to do it, and who has effected it by His precious blood; so that He has a right unto them and a property in them, which this phrase also suggests; and for all which they have great reason to praise the Lord and His goodness, and sing the new song of redeeming love.

Studylight.org, Coffman’s Commentaries on the Bible: No Christian has the right to remain silent with regard to the salvation that has been conferred upon him through the gospel of Christ. God’s saints need to be vocal about their redemption. If it was required of ancient Israel that they should extol the wonders of God’s delivering them from Babylon, is it not equally binding upon the New Israel to proclaim the wonders of “salvation in Jesus Christ?”

Verse Two

“I was lost, but Jesus found me,

Found the sheep that went astray,

Threw His loving arms around me,

Drew me back into His way.”

Luke 15:5-6

“And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.”

Biblehub.com, Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary: The parable of the lost sheep is very applicable to the great work of man's redemption. The lost sheep represents the sinner as departed from God, and exposed to certain ruin if not brought back to Him . . . Christ is earnest in bringing sinners home. In the parable of the lost piece of silver, that which is lost, is one piece of small value compared with the rest. Yet the woman seeks diligently till she finds it. This represents the various means and methods God makes use of to bring lost souls home to Himself, and the Savior’s joy on their return to Him. How careful then should we be that our repentance is unto salvation!

1 Peter 2:25

“For ‘you were like sheep going astray,’ but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”

Studylight.org, Barnes’ Notes on the Whole Bible: We were like a flock without a shepherd. We had wandered far away from the true fold, and were following our own paths. We were without a protector, and were exposed to every kind of danger. This aptly and forcibly expresses the condition of the whole race before God recovers people by the plan of salvation. A flock thus wandering without a shepherd, conductor, or guide, is in a most pitiable condition; and so was man in his wanderings before he was sought out and brought back to the true fold by the Great Shepherd.

Verse Three

“I was bruised, but Jesus healed me,

Faint was I from many a fall,

Sight was gone, and fears possessed me,

But He freed me from them all.”

1 Corinthians 7:22

“For the one who was a slave when called to faith in the Lord is the Lord’s freed person; similarly, the one who was free when called is Christ’s slave.”

Biblehub.com, Gill’s Exposition of the Entire  Bible: He is free from sin, not from the being, but from the servitude, guilt, and damning power of it: he is free from Satan, not from his temptations and insults, but from his dominion and captivity; he is ransomed from him, by the redemption of Christ, and is turned from his power in conversion; he has not that influence over him he before had; and he is so safe and secure from him, that he can never be destroyed by him,

Verse Four

“Days of darkness still come o’er me,

Sorrow’s path I often tread,

But His presence still is with me;

By His guiding hand I’m led.”

Romans 8:14

“For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.”

Bibleref.com: The Spirit leads Christians—every Christian—in a specific direction away from their sinful choices. We are saved by God's grace alone through our faith alone. Then, the Spirit, also by God's grace, begins to set a new direction for our lives and to give us the power to go that way . . . Why does God do this? Paul answers here: We are God's children. All who become God's children through faith in Christ are led by God's Spirit. All who are led by God's Spirit are His children.

Refrain

“Yes, I’ll sing the wondrous story.

Of the Christ Who died for me,

Sing it with the saints in glory,

Gathered by the crystal sea.”

1 Peter 5:10

“And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.”

BIblehub.com, Matthew Poole’s Commentary: That eternal glory whereof believers at the last day shall be made partakers, which is called God’s Glory, because it is that which He hath promised to them, and will at last put them in possession of.

Revelation 4:6

“Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal. In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back.”

Studylight.org, Coffman’s Commentaries on the Bible:  The sea represents . . . the tranquility and peacefulness of souls in the service of God, and how His eyes can penetrate to the very bottom. The purpose of the crystal sea might have been simply the creation of an emphatic distance between the beholder and the throne itself.

Preceptaustin.org: Those who achieve victory over the beast are seen standing on this sea of glass before the throne . . . This sea may also symbolize the “river of life” which flows from the temple during the Millennium and proceeds from the throne in the eternal

 

I am indebted to the following resources:

Dianaleaghmatthews.com

Blueletterbible.org

Hymntime.com

Hymnary.org

En.wikipedia.org

By His Grace . . .

 

I Am Thine, O Lord

Ira Sankey, well-known American gospel singer and composer, shared in his book that Fanny Crosby was visiting W.H. Doane, in his Cincinnati, Ohio home.  They were talking about the blessedness and nearness of God. The sun began to set that evening and the evening shadows were gathering around them, during which time someone described the sunset to Fanny. In a moment of inspiration, Fanny began to provide the words to the hymn. Doane fitted music to the lyrics. And that’s how “I Am Thine, O Lord” came to be.

Francis Jane Crosby is considered the hymn queen. She wrote over 9,000 hymns. She didn’t start writing until she was 40 years old. Some of her well-known hymns include “To God Be the Glory,” “All The Way the Savior Leads Me,” “Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross,” “Rescue the Perishing,” and “Blessed Assurance.”

John and Mercy Crosby were blessed with their first child whom they named Francis Jane but would call her Fanny. Living simply off the land, the Crosby’s were very poor financially, but rich in spiritual matters and Christian principles.

Crosby was born in 1820, in Brewster, New York. At the age of six weeks old, she lost her eyesight. Even so, Crosby grew to be an active and happy child. From a young age, Crosby learned about the love of God at the knee of her grandmother, who would read to her from the Bible. She taught her how to pray.

From 1835 to 1843 she attended the New York Institute for the Blind in New York City. At that time, Braille was just being developed, and it would not become widespread until many decades later. Crosby never used the system.

After her graduation, Crosby remained at the Institute as a teacher of English grammar and rhetoric and of ancient history until 1858.

Fanny was given an extraordinary opportunity. Hoping to bring attention to the Institute, Fanny was sent with some students to Washington, DC to address Congress. Her stated purpose was to raise money for the school and encourage Congress to incorporate the blind into every facet of society and not dismiss them from public life.

Members in her audience the day Fanny spoke to Congress included John Quincy Adams, the sixth president of the United States, and Jefferson Davis, a senator and the future president of the Confederate States of America. In this role, Fanny became the first woman to ever formally address the Senate and Congress.

She married Alexander Van Alstyne, who was also blind and was also a former pupil and then a teacher at the school. The couple’s only child was born in 1858 and died in infancy. Although the two eventually lived apart—to follow their own career paths—they remained married until Van Alstyne’s death in 1902.

Crosby was once asked if there was a special hymn written for her conversion experience. She replied: “I would write many hymns to describe the joy of my salvation. The one that stands out the most to me right now is this one, ‘Redeemed, How I Love to Proclaim It.’”

Crosby embraced her blindness saying, “When I get to heaven, the first face that shall ever gladden my sight will be that of my Savior!” She saw the face of her Savior on February 12, 1915, at the age of 94. She was the most important writer of gospel hymn texts in American history.

Verse One

“I am Thine, O Lord, I have heard Thy voice,

  And it told Thy love to me;

But I long to rise in the arms of faith,

  And be closer drawn to Thee.”

John 10:3

“The gatekeeper opens the gate for Him, and the sheep listen to His voice. He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out.”

Studylight.org, Gill’s Exposition of the Whole Bible: The shepherd's, even the voice of Christ; and which is no other than the Gospel, which is a voice of love, grace, and mercy; which proclaims peace, pardon, liberty, life, righteousness, and salvation; and which is a soul quickening, alluring, delighting, refreshing, and comforting voice: this the people of Christ are made to hear, not only externally, but internally; so as to understand it, delight in it, and distinguish it from another.

John 10:27

“My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.”

Spurgeon’s Verse Expositions of the Bible: Yes, the Lord discerns them. He singles them out, for “the Lord knows those that are His” . . . This is the very seal of their salvation. His eyes discern between the righteous and the wicked, between those that fear God and those that do not fear Him; His is a knowledge of quick and positive discernment. “I know them,” literally means a knowledge conveying warm approval and praise. “I know them,” says the Shepherd; “I take a delight in them. I know their secret sighs and times of tears. I hear their private prayers. I know their praises in the silence of their hearts. I know their dedication, and their aspirations to walk in holiness. I know the longings of their heart and their love for Me. I know how they delight in Me. I know how they trust My promises. I know how they look to My atoning blood. I know how in their inmost souls they rejoice in My name. I know them and approve their secret thoughts.” Brothers and sisters, the Lord’s people have an intimate relationship with their Master; Jesus foreknew them in His sovereign grace before the creation of the world; and now He personally knows them by taking a delight in them.

Verse Two

“Consecrate me now to Thy service, Lord,

  By the pow’r of grace divine;

Let my soul look up with a steadfast hope,

  And my will be lost in Thine.”

Isaiah 26:3

“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You.”

Studylight.org, Dr. Constable’s Expository Notes: The Lord keeps in true peace the mind-set that consistently trusts in Him.

Studylight.org, Gill’s Exposition of the Whole Bible: "Fixed" on the love of God, rooted and grounded in that, and firmly persuaded of interest in it, and that nothing can separate from it; on the covenant and promises of God, which are firm and sure; and on the faithfulness and power of God to make them good, and on Christ the Son of God, and Savior of men; upon Him as a Savior, laying the whole stress of their salvation on Him; upon His righteousness, for their justification; upon His blood and sacrifice, for atonement, pardon, and cleansing; on His fulness, for the supply of their wants; on His person, for their acceptance with God; and on His power, for their protection and preservation.

Verse Three

“O the pure delight of a single hour,

  That before Thy throne I spend;

When I kneel in prayer, and with Thee, my God,

  I commune as friend with Friend!”

Ephesians 3:14

“For this reason I kneel before the Father.”

Studylight.org, Dr. Constable’s Expository Notes: Bowing the knees and kneeling in prayer were postures that reflected an attitude of submission to God. Kneeling was not the most common posture for prayer in Paul’s culture. Usually, people stood when they prayed. Praying on one’s knees signified especially fervent praying.

John 15:15

“I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his Master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.”

Enduringword.com: They were friends because they were obedient (though not perfectly so). Friendship with Jesus can’t be disconnected from obedience to His commands. It must be active obedience . . . They were friends because Jesus didn’t keep secrets from them but openly revealed what He had received from God the Father.

Verse Four

“There are depths of love that I yet may know,

  Ere Thee face to face I see;

There are heights of joy that I yet may reach,

  Ere I rest in peace with Thee.”

1 Corinthians 13:12

“For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.”

Enduringword.com: Paul uses this term to describe complete, unhindered fellowship with God. 1 John 3:2 tells us when we get to heaven, we shall see Him as He is. There will be no more barriers to our relationship with God . . . When we get to heaven, we will have a really clear vision of the Lord. “We couldn’t handle this greater knowledge on this side of eternity . . . But up there we shall have our minds and our systems strengthened to receive more, without the damage that would come to us here from overleaping the boundaries of order, supremely appointed and divinely regulated.” (Spurgeon) . . . But in heaven, I will know God as perfectly as I can; being in the glory of heaven with Jesus.

Isaiah 32:18

“My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest.”

Studylight.org, Gill’s Exposition of the Whole Bible: Jews and Gentiles, and all the saints, shall dwell in peace and love one with another, and shall be free from all the outrages and persecutions of the enemy; which, when these happy times of the pouring forth of the Spirit and of the spiritual reign of Christ come, will be no more:

Refrain

“Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer blessed Lord,

  To the cross where Thou hast died;

Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer, blessed Lord,

    To Thy precious, bleeding side.”

On this side of heaven, we will always be in a spirit of longing. We will always look toward the limited nearness of God that we can only fully experience in His presence when we are reunited with Him for eternity. Until that day, all we can do is pray for Him to draw us closer and closer to Himself. The good news for us is that He is faithful to answer that prayer.

 

I am indebted to the following resources:

Dianaleaghmatthews.com

WomenofChristianity.com

Hymnologyarchive.com

Britannica.com; Article revised and updated by Melissa Petruzzelio

Hymnologyarchive.com; George C. Stebbins

Stanmurrell.org

Afrankvoice.com, Cameron Frank

By His Grace . . .

Down At The Cross

Elisha A. Hoffman was born in Orwigsburg, Pennsylvania, in 1839. His parents, Francis and Rebecca  were Pennsylvania Germans. His father was a minister of the Gospel in the Evangelical Association and rendered over sixty years of service in preaching the Word.

Elisha was educated in the public schools of Philadelphia and graduated in the scientific field from Central High School. Afterwards he took up the classics and completed a classical course in Union Seminary of the Evangelical Association. For eleven years he was connected with the Association's publishing house in Cleveland, Ohio.

Hoffman's musical education was obtained from his parents. While possessing natural musical abilities, Hoffman never attended a school of music. Any musical instruction Hoffman received came from his experiences at his father's church or at home.

His parents both had sweet voices and sang well. It was their custom in the hour of family worship, both morning and evening, to sing one or two hymns. At an early age, the children became familiar with these hymns and learned to love them and to feel their hallowing and refining power. Their lives were marvelously influenced by this little service of song in the home. A taste for sacred music was created and developed, and song became as natural a function of the soul as breathing was a function of the body.

Under the power of such an environment, Hoffman came to consciousness of a princely possession with which God had endowed him — the ability to express his intuitions and conceptions in meter and song. His inner being thrilled with inspirations, longing for expression, and he used the power with which God had clothed him in the production of the many songs which bear his name. His first composition was given to the world when he was eighteen years of age. Since then, heart, brain and pen have been very prolific in the birth of songs.

Hoffman married Susan M. Orwig who was 22 at the time. Hoffman was ordained by the Presbyterian Churches in 1873, at the age of 34. Two years later in 1876, his wife, Susan died, leaving him a single parent of their three sons.

In early 1879, at the age of 40, Hoffman remarried to Emma, a woman who was 26 years old. The couple had a baby boy in December of that same year, adding to the family's three other boys. At the time, they were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and had Hoffman's sister-in-law living with them and working as a dressmaker.

Hoffman held several pastoral positions in the Midwest. He pastored churches in both Cleveland and Grafton, Ohio, in the 1880s; moved to Benton Harbor, Michigan, and the First Presbyterian Church in the mid-1890s; and finished his ministry in Cabery, Illinois from 1911-22.

It is said that Hoffman was reading about the crucifixion of Jesus in his Bible, and he began to think about how God saved men from their sins by allowing Jesus to die on the cross.  His heart was filled with such gratitude that he wanted to give God all the glory and honor for this wonderful gift.  He quickly wrote the words of this poem.  And while he provided the music for most of the hymns that he wrote during his lifetime, this time it was John Stockton, a musician and member of Hoffman's church, who set the poem to music.

Hoffman died in 1929 in Chicago, Illinois, and is buried there in Oak Woods Cemetery.

Verse One

“Down at the cross where my Savior died,

Down where for cleansing from sin I cried,

There to my heart was the blood applied;

Glory to His Name!”

 

Colossians 1:19-20

“For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through His blood, shed on the cross.”

Enduringword.com: Jesus made peace for us through His work on the cross . . . The blood of the cross speaks to us of the real, physical death of Jesus Christ in our place, on our behalf, before God. That literal death in our place, and the literal judgment He bore on our behalf, is what saves.

Bibleref.com: Jesus' work in restoring man's relationship to God also restores the rest of creation. Jesus provided reconciliation through the cross . . . Just as a sacrifice was used in the Old Testament to make peace and reconciliation with God, Jesus served as a once-for-all sacrifice on behalf of the sins of all people. Those who accept His sacrifice and believe have eternal life.

Verse Two

“I am so wondrously saved from sin,

Jesus so sweetly abides within,

There at the cross where He took me in;

Glory to His Name!”

Galatians 2:20

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Biblehub.com, Barnes’ Notes on the Bible: Christ was the source of all the life that [Paul] had. This cannot be taken literally that Christ had a residence in the apostle, but it must mean that His grace resided in him; that His principles actuated him: and that he derived all His energy, and zeal, and life from His grace. The union between the Lord Jesus and the disciple was so close that it might be said the one lived in the other. So the juices of the vine are in each branch, and leaf, and tendril, and live in them and animate them; the vital energy of the brain is in each delicate nerve - no matter how small - that is found in any part of the human frame. Christ was in him as it were the vital principle. All his life and energy were derived from Him.

Biblehub.com, Matthew Poole’s Commentary: Christ, by His Spirit, liveth in me, having renewed and changed me, made me a new creature, and begot new motions and inclinations in me. And though I live in the flesh, yet I live by the faith of the Son of God; all my natural, moral, and civil actions, being principled in faith, and done according to the guidance of the rule of faith in Jesus Christ who loved me, and gave Himself for me.

Verse Three

“Oh, precious fountain that saves from sin,

I am so glad I have entered in;

There Jesus saves me and keeps me clean;

Glory to His Name!”

John 15:3

“You are already clean because of the Word I have spoken to you.”

Biblehub.com, Benson Commentary: All of you, to whom I [Jesus] now speak, are made clean from the guilt and power of sin through the Word which I have spoken unto you, whose sanctifying influence has operated on your hearts, and which, when applied by the Spirit, is the grand instrument of purifying the soul. Abide in Me by the continued exercise of humble faith and love, producing all holiness, by which alone you can continue to be in Me; and I in you — And I will be in you by my Spirit, to nourish your piety and virtue, and supply you, as from a living root, with every necessary grace.

Enduringword.com: In saying you are already clean, Jesus repeated an idea from earlier in the evening: that there is an initial cleansing, and then a continuing cleansing. The word of God is a cleansing agent. It condemns sin, it inspires holiness, it promotes growth, and it reveals power for victory. Jesus continues to wash His people through the word.

Verse Four

“Come to this fountain so rich and sweet,

Cast thy poor soul at the Savior's feet;

Plunge in today, and be made complete;

Glory to His Name!”

1 John 2:5

“But if anyone obeys His Word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in Him.”

Studylight.org, Coffman’s Commentaries on the Bible: Here is another glimpse of that absolute perfection [completeness] which is the goal of all Christian living . . . Although unattainable by humans in their own strength, it will nevertheless be achieved in them and for them by means of their being "in Christ" and thereby partaking of the absolute perfection of the Savior Himself.

Studylight.org, Barnes’ Notes on the Whole Bible: He [John] professes to have the love of God in his heart, and that love receives its completion or filling up by obedience to the will of God. That obedience is the proper carrying out, or the exponent of the love which exists in the heart. Love to the Savior would be defective without that, for it is never complete without obedience.

Refrain

“Glory to His Name! Glory to His Name,

There to my heart was the blood applied;

Glory to His Name!”

Philippians 2:11

“. . . and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Biblehub.com, Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers: The acknowledgment of the glory of Christ is the acknowledgment of the glory of the Father, as the Source of Deity, manifested perfectly in Him. Our Lord’s repeated profession that His work on earth was to manifest the Father . . . His declaration that He had so done; and in the truth that His glory is the glory given of the Father.

Many of Hoffman’s hymns, express the reality of how the sacrifice of Christ on the cross should impact our lives.  When His blood is applied to our sinful lives, we are forgiven and cleansed, we are saved from sin, and He abides within.  He takes us into His family, and He keeps us clean.  And having experienced this, our heart should cry out, just like Hoffman's did, "Glory to His Name.”

  

I am indebted to the following resources:

Barryshymns.blogspot.com

Christianmusicandhymns.com

En.wikipedia.org

Wholesomewords.org

By His Grace . . .

 

He Lives

It was in 1932 when Alfred Ackley, writer of “He Lives,” was preaching at an evangelistic meeting, and a Jewish student said: “Why should I worship a dead Jew?” This bothered Ackley and it stayed on his mind. He would soon write the glorious hymn “He Lives” that believers enthusiastically sing with all their hearts.

Using the Scriptures to witness to him, Pastor Ackley began to explain to this young man how that Jesus was alive. “He Lives! I tell you; He is not dead, but lives here and now! Jesus Christ is more alive today than ever before. I can prove it by my own experience, as well as the testimony of countless thousands.”

Alfred Ackley was born on January 21, 1887.  His father was a Methodist Minister who provided a strong foundation for him in music. He showed great musical potential as a child.

He was tutored by his musician father and then went to New York City to study and on to the Royal Academy of Music in London. There, Ackley played the piano and cello and showed great promise as a composer.

After completing his musical training, Ackley returned to the states to attend Westminster Theological Seminary in Maryland and was ordained as a Presbyterian minister in 1914. He never stopped writing hymns and music.

As a young man, he began composing songs.  He felt called to the pastorate and grad­u­at­ed from West­min­ster The­o­log­ic­al Sem­in­ary. He pastored churches in Pennsylvania and California.  Even while pastoring churches, he never stopped composing and writing.  He often composed with his brother, Bentley DeForest Ackley.  Ackley even worked alongside evangelist Billy Sunday for a while.

But the question that young Jewish student asked continued to bother him. One year after waking early to prepare his Easter Sunday message, he was amazed to hear on the radio a famous liberal preacher in New York say, “Good morning. It’s Easter! You know, folks, it really doesn’t make any difference to me if Christ be risen or not. As far as I am concerned, His body could be as dust in some Palestinian tomb. The main thing is His truth goes marching on!”

Ackley’s anger at this was displayed as he threw the radio across the room, yelling, “It’s a lie!” causing his wife to hear the commotion. His wife checked on him and encouraged him to pen out his frustration in the form of music.

During the Easter service that morning, Ackley preached with strength and urgency about the reality of Christ’s Resurrection. But later that night, he continued to dwell on his Jewish friend’s words and the sermon on the radio.

In his study, Ackley re-read the Resurrection account from Mark’s Gospel in the Bible, and soon the words began to pour from him. A few minutes later, he put music to the words, and answered the question, “Why should I worship a dead Jew?”

The author compiled hymnals and songbooks for the Rodeheaver Publishing Company, a leading publisher of gospel songs. He is credited with 1,500 hymns, gospel songs, and children's songs, as well as secular and glee songs. In recognition for his contributions to sacred music, Ackley was awarded an honorary Doctor of Sacred Music degree from John Brown University in Siloam Springs, Arkansas. Alfred Ackley died on July 3, 1960 in Los Angeles, California.

Alfred’s older brother, Bentley, was also a renowned gospel songwriter, who traveled with the Billy Sunday/Homer Rodeheaver evangelistic team as pianist. Bentley later became a composer and editor with the Rodeheaver Publishing Company, writing over 3,000 hymns and gospel songs.

Verse One

“I serve a risen Savior, He's in the world today;

I know that He is living, whatever men may say;

I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer,

And just the time I need Him, He's always near.”

1 Timothy 4:10

“That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe.”

Enduringword.com, David Guzik: This is to be the great motto of the Christian life. Even as David challenged Goliath in the name of the living God, so our trust in the living God empowers us to accomplish great things for His glory . . .  “But our God, in whom we trust, is a God with a great, warm, loving heart, a thinking God, an active God, a working, personal God, who comes into the midst, of this world, and does not leave it to go on by itself. Although he is a stranger in the world, even as His people also are strangers and foreigners by reason of the revolt that men have made against their Lord and Sovereign, yet it is still His world, and He is still in it.” (Spurgeon)

Studylight.org, Contending for the Faith: The "agonizing" battle that Timothy and Paul are engaged in is not pointless either because Paul has confidence that he is fighting "the good fight" and that his captain is "the Living God” . . . who is the Savior of all men, especially of them that believe: The God in whom he and Timothy have placed their trust is the Savior of the world and, in a special sense, the Savior of believers.

Verse Two

“In all the world around me I see His loving care,

And tho' my heart grows weary I never will despair;

I know that He is leading thro' all the stormy blast,

The day of His appearing will come at last.”

Matthew 10:29

“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.”

Studylight.org, Barnes’ Notes on the Whole Bible: He encourages them not to fear by two striking considerations: first, that God takes care of sparrows, the smallest and least valuable of birds; and, secondly, by the fact that God numbers even the hairs of the head. The argument is that if He takes care of birds of the least value, if He regards so small a thing as the hair of the head, and numbers it, He will certainly protect and provide for you. You need not, therefore, fear what man can do to you.

John 10:3

“The gatekeeper opens the gate for Him, and the sheep listen to His voice. He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out.”

Studylight.org, Clarke’s Commentary: A good Shepherd is well acquainted with His flock; He knows them by name - He takes care to acquaint Himself with the spiritual states of all those that are entrusted to Him. He speaks to them concerning their souls, and thus getting a thorough knowledge of their state . . . He leads them out of themselves to Christ, out of the follies, diversions, and amusements of the world, into the path of Christian holiness: in a word, He leads them, by those gentle yet powerful persuasions that flow from a heart full of the Word and love of Christ, into the kingdom and glory of His God.

Verse Three

“Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian, lift up your voice and sing

Eternal hallelujahs to Jesus Christ the King!

The Hope of all who seek Him, the Help of all who find,

None other is so loving, so good and kind.”

Hebrews 13:6

“So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”

Biblehub.com, Barnes’ Notes on the Bible: The sentiment is beautiful and full of consolation. What can we fear if we have the assurance that the Lord is on our side, and that He will help us? Man can do no more to us than He permits, and of course no more than will be for our own good; and under whatever trials we may be placed, we need be under no painful apprehensions, for God will be our protector and our friend.

Biblehub.com, Matthew Poole’s Commentary: The Lord in the infiniteness of His power, wisdom, and goodness, is a real, present, universal, and permanent help against all trouble, and for all supplies in all cases, and at all times, to every one of them

Biblehub.com, Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible: the Lord is my helper; He is able to help, and does help, when none else can; He has promised to be the helper of His people; He has laid help for them on Christ, who is mighty; and He has helped him as man, that He might help them; He has set up a throne of grace for them to come to, where they may find help; and experience confirms the truth of this assertion

Psalm 28:7

“The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and He helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise Him.”

Studylight.org, Coffman’s Commentaries on the Bible: The expression of such confidence begins with the statement that, “Jehovah is my strength,” of which Adam Clarke declared the meaning to be, “I have the fullest persuasion that God hears, will answer, and will save me.”

Refrain

“He lives, He lives Christ Jesus lives today!

He walks with me and talks with me along life's narrow way.

He lives, He lives, salvation to impart!

You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart!”

2 Timothy 1:12

"That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day."

Studylight.org, Clarke’s Commentary: Though I suffer for the Gospel, I am not ashamed of the Gospel; nor am I confounded in my expectation; His grace being at all times sufficient for me. For I know whom I have believed — I am well acquainted with the goodness, mercy, and power of Christ; and know that I cannot confide in Him in vain.

Barnes’ Notes on the Whole Bible: Margin, “trusted.” The idea is, that he understood the character of that Redeemer to whom he had committed his eternal interests, and knew that he had no reason to be ashamed of confiding in Him. He was able to keep all that he had entrusted to His care, and would not suffer him to be lost.

Studylight.org, Contending for the Faith: Notice Paul does not say "I know what I believe," but more personally, "I know Him whom I have been trusting." "Trusting all along," Lenski adds, "and trusting still.”

He Lives!  Revelation 1:18: “I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.”

 

I am indebted to the following resources:

Thedestinlog.com, Pam Griffin

Dianaleaghmatthews.com

Umcdiscipleship.org, C. Michael Hawn

Fcclondonky.com/: Jonathan Carmack

Imperfectdust.com/Danielle Stringer

Robert J. Morgan, Then Sings My Soul

Kenneth W. Osbeck, Amazing Grace

By His Grace . . . 

The Old Rugged Cross

 

George Bennard was born in Youngstown, Ohio, in 1873, into a very modest family. His father, a tavern owner and later a coal miner, passed away during George’s teen years, leaving the youth with tremendous family responsibilities. To that end, he became a coal miner in Iowa, where he spent his childhood.

Bennard's conversion at the age of 22 through the evangelistic ministry of the Salvation Army in Canton, Iowa, led to his ordination and commissioning as a traveling evangelist in 1898. He later became a Methodist evangelist.

In 1910, stepping out in faith, Bennard resigned and began his own itinerant ministry. During the early years of his ministry, Bennard was “praying for a full understanding of the cross and its plan in Christianity.”

Consequently, he spent many hours in study, prayer and meditation, until he could say, “I saw the Christ of the cross as if I were seeing John 3:16 leave the printed page, take form and act out the meaning of redemption.”

The first verse of “The Old Rugged Cross” was completed by Bennard during a series of meetings in Albion, Michigan. Several months later, the remaining three verses were completed in Pokagon, Michigan, where Bennard was leading meetings at a local church.

Sometime later, during a series of meetings, Bennard was heckled incessantly by several youth. Troubled by their disregard for the gospel, he again turned to Scripture to reflect on the work of Christ on the cross.

He returned home with a renewed meaning of the cross etched in his mind and heart. He took the song manuscript and placed it on the kitchen table. In a very short span of time, he was able to rewrite the stanzas with each word falling perfectly into place. He asked his wife to join him in the kitchen. She did so and he joyfully sang his new song. She was very pleased, expressing that the song was great.

He then sent the manuscript to Charles H. Gabriel, in Chicago, asking if he would write the proper chords with the melody line. Gabriel did so and returned the document with the message, “You will hear from this song.”

Bennard traveled with Ed. E. Mieras to Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, where they held evangelistic meetings at the Friends Church. He performed the song in its entirety for the sponsoring pastor and his wife, Rev. Leroy and Ruby Bostwick, in the living room of the parsonage. The Bostwicks were moved to tears and incorporated the song in the revival service on June 7, 1913. Bennard and Mieras performed it as a duet before a full house with Pearl Torstensen Berg, the organist for the meeting.

Today, that same church building, originally a hops barn, is owned by the non-profit “Old Rugged Cross Foundation” and welcomes thousands of visitors annually. The Friends Community Church in Sturgeon Bay has a garden with a cross on it to commemorate the first singing of the hymn.

The hymn quickly spread throughout the region and came to the attention of the evangelist Billy Sunday, who frequently utilized it in his meetings. Two years later, Bennard sold the copyright of the song for a payment of $500, forgoing future royalties. Upon the renewal of the copyright 28 years later, he received a final payment of $5,000.

Bennard said what I have since heard countless other songwriters say, “I really didn’t write it. I was merely the instrument God used.”

Bennard traveled throughout the Midwest, holding revivals until his retirement in Reed City, Michigan, more than 30 years later.

Loved for its lilting melody and words of personal trust in the cross of Christ, "The Old Rugged Cross" remains one of the most cherished hymns of the Christian faith. It has since been included in numerous hymnals and recordings by contemporary artists.

Verse One

“On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,

The emblem of suff’ring and shame.

And I love that old cross where the dearest and best,

For a world of lost sinners was slain.”

 

Romans 5:8

“But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Biblestudytools.com, Clarence L. Haynes Jr: The demonstration of His love leads to this one great act, Christ dying for you and me. The greatest treasure of heaven was sacrificed to win back the worst sinners on earth. That’s why if you ever run into a place where you question just how much God loves you, simply remember the cross. This is the forever reminder and proof of how great God’s love is for you.

Bibleref.com: Christ took that judgment for our sin on Himself on the cross. He suffered and died in our place. Paul insists that we should take that act as evidence of God's great love for us . . . He died for us before we'd ever done anything to deserve that love. It takes love to die willingly for someone else, even if they're a "good" person. But we, those who have been saved, were still sinners, and we weren't going to improve. In truth, we had no hope of avoiding God's judgment before Jesus took it for us.

Verse Two

“Oh, 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.”

John 19:17

“Carrying His own cross, He went out to the place of the Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha.”

Enduringword.com, David Guzik: According to Roman custom Jesus carried His cross from the place of sentencing to the place of crucifixion, the Place of [the] Skull. Before the Romans put a man on a cross, they put the cross on the man, forcing him to carry it in a public procession intended to draw attention to the condemned, his crime, and his fate . . . one could say that the Romans perfected it and made it an institution. It was the form of execution reserved for the worst criminals and the lowest classes. Crucifixion was designed to make the victim die publicly, slowly, with great pain and humiliation. This was the form of death God ordained for Jesus to die, and the death that He submitted to in the will of God.

Verse Three

“In the old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,

Such a wonderful beauty I see.

For ‘twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,

To pardon and sanctify me.”

Micah 7:18

“Who is a God like You, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.”

Biblehub.com, Benson Commentary: That is, there is no God like unto Thee . . . That pardons the offences of His people . . . Because it is His nature to delight in pardoning the penitent and communicating blessings . . . He will deliver us not only from the guilt, but also from the power of them, so that they shall not have dominion over us.

Biblehub.com, Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary: All who find pardoning mercy, cannot but wonder at that mercy; we have reason to stand amazed, if we know what it is. When the Lord takes away the guilt of sin, that it may not condemn us, he will break the power of sin I will not have dominion over us.

Biblehub.com, Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible: Thus the Lord has taken the sins of his people off of them, and laid them on Christ, and he has bore them, and carried them away . . . never to be seen and remembered anymore.

1 Thessalonians 5:23

“May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Studylight.org, Clarke’s Commentary: That same God who is the author of peace, the giver of peace; and who has sent, for the redemption of the world, the Prince of peace; may that very God sanctify you wholly; leave no more evil in your hearts than His precepts tolerate evil in your conduct. The word wholly means precisely the same as our phrase, to all intents and purposes. May He sanctify you to the end and to the uttermost, that, as sin hath reigned unto death, even so may grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life, by Jesus Christ our Lord.

Verse Four

“To the old rugged cross I will ever be true,

Its shame and reproach gladly bear.

Then He’ll call me someday to my home far away,

Where His glory forever I’ll share.”

Romans 8:18

“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”

Enduringword.com, David Guzik: This coming glory will not only be revealed to us, but it will actually be revealed in us. God has put this glory into the believer right now. In heaven the glory will simply be revealed.

Studylight.org, Dr. Constable’s Expository Notes: In the light of eternity we should view the cost of suffering with Jesus Christ now as insignificant in view of the glory that lies ahead for us . . . Our glorification is the third and final aspect of our salvation in which God will deliver us from the presence of sin forever.

Refrain

“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."

2 Timothy 4:8

“Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for His appearing.”

Workingpreacher.org, Mark Throntveit: The Lord will give Paul and other believers the crown of righteousness. This reward is not Paul’s to seize. He didn’t earn it, necessarily; but his faithful service buttresses his confidence that the Lord will prove faithful in providing it to all who faithfully await His appearance.

 

I am indebted to the following resources:

Lifeway.com/Eric Wyse

Umcdiscipleship.org

Independentbaptist.com

Staugustine.com

En.wikipedia.org

Godtube.com

Pbnradio.com, MatureLivingMagazine

By His Grace . . . 

No One Cared For Me Like Jesus

The story behind “No One Ever Cared For Me Like Jesus” is as touching and powerful as that of many classic Christian hymns. This song originated from the personal struggles of its writer, Charles Frederick Weigle.

Weigle composed this hymn in 1932. He was a Baptist evangelist, preacher, and music teacher from Lafayette, Indiana. He composed over 1,000 gospel songs throughout his life. However, this particular hymn stands out for its story and meaning.

Weigle was born November 20, 1871, into a German-Lutheran family. He had four brothers and seven sisters. His father and mother were devout Christians who led them in family prayer and daily Bible reading.

Weigle gave his life to Christ during a series of revival meetings at the Methodist Church of Lafayette, where his parents had been attending. Several of his friends were also converted during that time. Charles, one of his last peers to give his life to Christ, already had a reputation as a troublemaker. As he tells the testimony of his salvation, he likens that little church to a courtroom where his sins lay bare before the judge. Confronted with the evidence, he had little hope. Then Jesus stepped forward to take the penalty for his sins.

Charles’ testimony exposes a nasty young boy’s temper. He recounts the story of seriously injuring an older brother with a knife, knocking down one of the neighbor boys with a bat, and attacking someone with a heavy dinner bell so severely the victim had to be carried home. His parents warned him many times about the consequences of his violent bursts of anger.

His conversion experience pits a forceful recognition of condemnation of sin with awareness of his deep need for forgiveness. Under conviction of sin, he pictured one after another of those he’d wronged who pronounced him guilty.

Weigle illustrates Jesus’ work in his heart as one who knew the hopeless situation of his soul but as a loving and caring advocate before the high court of heaven. The question came to young Charles within his soul, “Did you do all these things?” Charles responded, “Yes, sir, and a lot of things they don’t even know about.”

Charles’s ministry often took him away from home, leaving his wife and daughter alone. One day, Weigle came home to find his wife had decided to leave him. The strain proved too much for their marriage. She no longer wanted to live the life of an evangelist’s wife. His wife took their daughter and indulged in a life of worldly pleasure.

Weigle fell into a deep depression. The hymn’s title poignantly reflects the despair he’d experienced in those years when he wondered if anyone truly cared. Ministry and songwriting halted. His faith was sorely tried. Three years later, his wife died.

Weigle speaks of coming through years of misery and struggling with a stronger desire to give everything to the Lord. His ministry and music resumed. Overwhelming abundance and joy returned. As he marveled at the blessings of the Lord one day, Charles sat down at his piano and said aloud, “Jesus, no one ever cared for me like You.” He then wrote the song expressing this heartfelt reality in only twenty minutes.

The words of the title had proven true in the life of Charles Weigle. Jesus’ kindness and compassion of Jesus throughout Weigle’s darkness became more real than he had ever known. He found Christ’s love deeper than any he had ever experienced.

It is not difficult to sing when all is going well. But often God gives a special song to one of his hurting children during the night times of their life. Believers find new joy in their nights of sorrow and despair, and they discover a greater closeness with their Lord during times of deep need. The apostle John wrote the book of Revelation while on the barren island of Patmos; John Bunyan completed the classic "Pilgrim’s Progress” while in the Bedford jail; Beethoven composed his immortal 9th Symphony while totally deaf; and Fanny Crosby once remarked, “If I had not lost my sight, I could never have written all the hymns God gave me.”

Verse One

“I would love to tell you what I think of Jesus,

Since I found in Him a friend so strong and true;

I would tell you how He changed my life completely -

He did something that no other friend could do.”

John 15:12-14

“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made know to you.”

Enduringword.com, David Guzik: Jesus described the measure and quality of His love for them, to use as a pattern for the way they [disciples] should love each other. His love is complete and of surpassing greatness, laying down His life . . . Friendship with Jesus can’t be disconnected from obedience to His commands . . . they were friends because Jesus didn’t keep secrets from them, but openly revealed what He had received from God the Father.

James 2:23

“And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, ‘Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,’ and he was called God’s friend.”

Biblehub.com, Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible: He was loved by God with an everlasting love, who showed acts of friendship to him; called him by His grace, and blessed him with spiritual blessings , , , and Abraham readily complied with His will, and not only yielded a cheerful obedience to His commands, but enjoined his children after him to observe them.

Verse Two

“All my life was full of sin when Jesus found me;

All my heart was full of misery and woe;

Jesus placed His strong and loving arms around me,

And He led me in the way I ought to go.”

Deuteronomy 33:27a

“The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.”

Enduringword.com, David Guzik: The everlasting arms of God are underneath, as a foundation for everything. Everything in the universe, all creation, the church, the individual believer – all built on a firm foundation, with God’s everlasting, strong, arms underneath. They are also underneath the believer as a place of rest. Our Father’s arms are a perfect pillow, giving perfect rest. We can put all our weight on these strong arms, leaning heavily on them . . . “They are arms which always were, and always will be; arms which always were strong, and never will grow faint or weary; arms which once outstretched will never be drawn back again; arms which once engaged for the defense of the chosen people shall never cease to work for their good world without end. Not failing arms, nor dying arms, but everlasting arms, are underneath the saints of God.” (Spurgeon)

Verse Three

“Every day He comes to me with new assurance,

More and more I understand His words of love;

But I'll never know just why He came to save me,

Till someday I see His blessed face above.”

Hebrews 10:22

“Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.”

Studylight.org, Clarke’s Commentary: Being fully persuaded that God will accept us for the sake of His Son, and that the sacrificial death of Christ gives us full authority to expect every blessing we need.

Studylight.org, Barnes’ Notes on the Whole Bible: The “full assurance of faith” means unwavering confidence; a fulness of faith in God which leaves no room for doubt. Christians are permitted to come thus because God has revealed Himself through the Redeemer as in every way deserving their fullest confidence. No one approaches God in an acceptable manner who does not come to Him in this manner. 

Refrain

“No one ever cared for me like Jesus;

There's no other friend so kind as He;

No one else could take the sin and darkness from me -

O how much He cared for me!”

1 Peter 5:7

“Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”

Biblehub.com, Matthew Poole’s Commentary: God concerns Himself in the affairs of His servants, and in whatsoever befalls them, and takes diligent care that no good thing be wanting to them.”

Studylight.org, Clarke’s Commentary: Whatever things concern a follower of God, whether they be spiritual or temporal, or whether in themselves great or small, God concerns Himself with them; what affects them affects Him; in all their afflictions He is afflicted. He who knows that God care for him, need have no anxious cares about himself. This is a plain reference to Psalms 55:22: “Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He will sustain thee. He will bear both thee and thy burden."

Studylight.org, Barnes’ Notes on the Whole Bible: The meaning is, that we are to commit our whole cause to Him. If we suffer heavy trials; if we lose our friends, health, or property; if we have arduous and responsible duties to perform; if we feel that we have no strength, and are in danger of being crushed by what is laid upon us, we may go and cast all upon the Lord; that is, we may look to Him for grace and strength, and feel assured that He will enable us to sustain all that is laid upon us. He will enable us to bear with ease what we supposed we could never have done; and the burden which He lays upon us will be light.

This hymn became popular almost immediately after it appeared in the 1930s, but even more so after the rich bass-baritone of George Beverly Shea sang it at Billy Graham’s evangelistic meetings. Thousands heard the song. Captivated by the words highlighted in the title, the simple truth resonated with its hearers.

The words of the title proved true in the life of Weigle. Each of us can confidently say: no one cared for me like Jesus.

 

I am indebted to the following resources:

Faithpot.com

Christianity.com

Kenneth W. Osbeck, Amazing Grace

By His Grace . . .