One of my favorite 19th century hymn writers was Fanny Crosby, who wrote something like 8,000 songs. They are not all equally good, of course, but here's one of her best:
Jesus, keep me near the cross,
There a precious fountain
Free to all, a healing stream
Flows from Calvary’s mountain.
In the cross, in the cross,
Be my glory ever;
Till my raptured soul shall find
Rest beyond the river.
Near the cross, a trembling soul,
Love and mercy found me;
There the bright and morning star
Sheds its beams around me.
In the cross, in the cross,
Be my glory ever;
Till my raptured soul shall find
Rest beyond the river.
Near the cross! O Lamb of God,
Bring its scenes before me;
Help me walk from day to day,
With its shadows o’er me.
In the cross, in the cross,
Be my glory ever;
Till my raptured soul shall find
Rest beyond the river.
Near the cross I’ll watch and wait
Hoping, trusting ever,
Till I reach the golden strand,
Just beyond the river.
In the cross, in the cross,
Be my glory ever;
Till my raptured soul shall find
Rest beyond the river.
Out of the deep I call,
To Thee, O Lord, to Thee,
Before Thy throne of grace I fall;
Be merciful to me.
Out of the deep I cry,
The woeful deep of sin,
Of evil done in days gone by,
Of evil now within.
Out of the deep of fear
And dread of coming shame;
All night till morning watch is near
I plead the precious Name.
Lord, there is mercy now,
As ever was, with Thee,
Before Thy throne of grace I bow;
Be merciful to me.
***One of my favorite 19th century hymn writers was Fanny Crosby, who wrote something like 8,000 songs. ***
Can you believe it! She was blind!