When we survey the wondrous cross

C85 CB101 E101 K85 R76 S51 T101
1
When we survey the wondrous cross
On which the Lord of glory died,
Our richest gain we count but loss,
And pour contempt on all our pride.
2
Our God forbid that we should boast,
Save in the death of Christ, our Lord;
All the vain things that charm us most,
We'd sacrifice them to His blood.
3
There from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flowed mingled down;
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?
4
His dying crimson, from His head
Spreads o'er His body on the tree;
To all the world then am I dead,
And all the world is dead to me.
5
Were the whole realm of nature ours,
That were an offering far too small;
Love that transcends our highest pow'rs,
Demands our heart, our life, our all.
28
Ana Lara

Storrs, Connecticut, United States

Edward Miller (1735-1807) was an English musician, composer, and historian of Doncaster. He is most noted as a writer of the hymn-tunes Rockingham and Galway.

Miller was the son of a pavior, (one who lays down pavers on the streets) but left home to study music from Charles Burney who was then at King’s Lynn in the county of Norfolk, England. For a time he played the flute in Handel’s Orchestra.

In 1752 he published ‘Six Solos for the German Flute’. In 1756, he was appointed organist of St. George’s Minster Doncaster, and continued in the post for the next 50 years. Miller also gave lessons on the pianoforte as a way to supplement his income. In 1768, he published ‘Six Sonatas for the Harpsichord’ and in 1771 the work by which he is best known; ‘The Institutes of Music, ’this work continued for 16 editions. In 1773 he published ‘Twelve Songs, Elegies for Voice and Pianoforte, ’ and in 1774, King George of England became his patron so that Miller could issue his works for subscription; the Psalms of David set to Music and arranged for every Sunday of the year. He had over 5, 000 subscribers!

Francis Linley, an English organist and composer, who was born blind, studied under Miller from the time he was very young.

In 1784 Miller published ‘Letters on Behalf of Professor of Music Residing in the Country’—a critique in the ‘Critical Review, ’ it is a plea that poor musicians in the country should benefit as well as those in London by the Handel Commemoration Festival.

The University of Cambridge awarded him a Doctorate of Music in 1786.

Edward continued to publish many works during this time from 1787 to 1792.

He arranged the tune Rockingham as a hymn- tune in 1790 to which Isaac Watts’ hymn “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” is sung. He also wrote the tune Galway, to Charles Wesley‘s hymn “A Charge to Keep I Have. ’

Edward Miller passed away on September 12, 1807 at the age of 71 at Doncaster.

His works include:

•The Psalms of David Set to Music, 1774

•Elements of Thorough-bass and Composition, 1787

•The Psalms of David for the Use of Parish Churches, 1790

•Thoughts on the Present Performance of Psalmody, 1791

•The Psalms of Watts and Wesley, 1801

•Sacred Music, 1802

•History of Doncaster, 1804


Anonymous

Love that transcends our highest pow’rs,

Demands our heart, our life, our all.


Laurette Thomas

Kingston, Jamaica

This song always takes me back to a place of repentance and gratitude.

LOVE SO AMAZING SO DIVINE DEMANDS MY SOUL MY LIFE MY ALL,

THANK YOU LORD JESUS CHRIST 🙏


Femi Akande

Lagos, Nigeria

Love so pure, love so divine, demands my all! Amen! Thank you Jesus!


Ijah Amoson

Obio, Rivers State, Nigeria

Jesus Christ My Saviour, Unique in all the World, is everything to me.


Alexander Gillan

Chef-Boutonne, Poitou-Charentes, France

The words are wrong, the correct words are...

VERSE 1

When I survey the wondrous cross

On which the Prince of glory died,

My richest gain I count but loss,

And pour contempt on all my pride.

VERSE 2

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast

Save in the death of Christ, my God.

All the vain things that charm me most,

I sacrifice them to His blood.

VERSE 3

See, from His head, His hands, His feet,

Sorrow and love flow mingled down.

Did e’er such love and sorrow meet

Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

VERSE 4

His dying crimson, like a robe,

Spreads o'er His body on the tree;

Then am I dead to all the globe,

And all the globe, is dead to me."

Verse 5

Were the whole realm of nature mine,

That were a present far too small.

Love so amazing, so divine,

Demands my soul, my life, my all.


Learning Christ

Demands our heart our life our all 1 Corinthians 16:24

My love in Christ Jesus be with you all.


Sharon Wimer

Rancho Cordova, California, United States

There from His head, His hands, His feet,

Sorrow and love flowed mingled down;

Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,

Or thorns compose so rich a crown?


Waleghwa

Nairobi, Kenya

I love this hymn. I must admit I'm taken aback by this new wording, which I haven't seen before. A testimony is very personal, and I would imagine that each verse speaks to each person differently. And of course the glorious beauty of the words in the original version (love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all) cannot be improved upon. And technically there's no such thing as "our all". My all is different from your all. The degree of sacrifice required of each of us is unique. The rich young ruler had a lot to give up. The widow with two mites, next to nothing.


Austin

India

Thank you Jesus

Have mercy on us.

Amen

The marriage relationship of a husband and wife is a case in point. If it rests solely on the basis of right, it will be difficult for their life to be harmonious and sweet. A true marriage relationship not only rests on the basis of right, but the more on love. Because the wife loves her husband, she becomes one with him and lives with him. So it is in a true consecration to God. When we touch the love of God and see that He truly is lovely, we will then consecrate ourselves to Him. Thus, although consecration based on love changes according to our mood, yet, on the other hand, intense consecration is the result of constraining love. Those who have not had the experience of being constrained by the love of the Lord will not have a consecration that is good and intense. This is quite evident. Number 101 in our hymnbook (When I Survey the Wondrous Cross) tells also a story of consecration because of the love of the Lord. It says that whenever I think of that love which saved me, I count everything but loss, because this love is so great. It goes on to say that I see His condition on the cross, His head, His hands, and His feet flowing with sorrow, love, and blood. All this because He loves me! Having seen such a love as this, if I offered to Him the entire universe, I would still feel ashamed, because His love is so noble, so excelling. If I should seek to repay His love, then I do not recognize His love; I even defile it. His love is like a priceless pearl, while my consecration is like filthy rags—we are simply unworthy of Him. One day, when the Spirit sheds this love abroad in our hearts, we too will have such intense consecration.

The fifth step is the turning. For example, after the remembrance of the Lord, we need to turn to worship the Father. Sometimes the Lord's table has not reached the point of worshipping the Father, but a brother selects Hymns, #33; sometimes a brother selects Hymns, #101 immediately after the bread and the cup have been passed. Both are inappropriate. Hence, there is the need of a sixth step for correction. Sometimes a meeting may be quite long. For example, when a great number of saints gather together, it may take a longer time for the bread and the cup to be passed. If this is the case, there may be the need to maintain the spirit through a hymn or some prayers. This is the seventh step, maintaining the spirit for the meeting. Even though we use hymns and prayers to maintain the spirit, there may still be the need to fill up the time with more prayers and singing. This is the eighth step. Then toward the end of the meeting comes the ninth step to sing a concluding hymn. Sometimes even though the meeting has ended, there is still a lingering air; thus, we may select another hymn to send the saints off. This is the tenth step. This can be compared to sending off a friend who has visited you by walking a distance with him.

Piano Hymns