Near the Cross | Songs and Everlasting Joy

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Near the Cross is another beautiful hymn by Fanny Crosby, a blind authoress who penned as many as 9000 hymns. This particular hymn tune was written by William Howard Doane in 1869. He played it for his friend, Fanny, and asked her to write some lyrics for it. She tried, but had no inspiration whatsoever until she realised she had forgotten to pray before her attempt, as she usually did. She quickly knelt in prayer and rose, immediately dictating the words to her assistant. It was published in a hymnbook that same year.

May we all stay near the cross, and carrying dutifully the cross that Jesus has given us to bear until we see Him one day in glory.

Near the Cross

Verse 1
Jesus keep me near the cross;
There a precious fountain,
Free to all, a healing stream,
Flows from Calvary’s mountain.

Chorus
In the cross, in the cross,
Be my glory ever,
Till my raptured soul shall find
Rest beyond the river.

Verse 2
Near the cross, a trembling soul,
Love and mercy found me;
There the bright and morning star
Sheds its beams around me.

Verse 3
Near the cross! O Lamb of God,
Bring its scenes before me;
Help me walk from day to day
With its shadow o’er me.

4
Near the cross I’ll watch and wait,
Hoping, trusting ever,
Till I reach the golden strand
Just beyond the river.