Scripture Verse

I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 1 Corinthians 2:2

Introduction

portrait
Benjamin H. Kennedy
(1804–1889)

Words: Jo­hann C. Schwed­ler (1672–1730). Pub­lished post­hu­mous­ly in Hirsch­berg­er Ge­sang­buch, 1741 (Wollt ihr wiss­en, was mein Preis?). Trans­lat­ed from Ger­man to Eng­lish by Ben­ja­min H. Ken­ne­dy in Hym­no­lo­gia Chris­ti­ana, or Psalms and Hymns Se­lect­ed and Ar­ranged in the Or­der of the Chris­tian Sea­sons, 1863.

Music: Hen­don H. A. Cé­sar Ma­lan, Chants de Si­on 1827. Har­mo­ny by Lo­well Ma­son, Car­mi­na Sac­ra, 1841 (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pic­ture of Schwed­ler (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

portrait
Lowell Mason (1792–1872)

Lyrics

Ask ye what great thing I know,
That de­lights and stirs me so?
What the high re­ward I win?
Whose the name I glo­ry in?
Jesus Christ, the Cr­uci­fied.

What is faith’s foun­da­tion strong?
What awakes my heart to song?
He who bore my sin­ful load,
Purchased for me peace with God,
Jesus Christ, the Cru­ci­fied.

Who is He that makes me wise
To dis­cern where du­ty lies?
Who is He that makes me true
Duty, when dis­cerned to do,
Jesus Christ, the Cru­ci­fied.

Who de­feats my fierc­est foes?
Who con­soles my sad­dest woes?
Who re­vives my faint­ing heart,
Healing all its hid­den smart?
Jesus Christ, the Cru­ci­fied.

Who is life in life to me?
Who the death of death will be?
Who will place me on His right,
With the count­less hosts of light?
Jesus Christ, the Cru­ci­fied.

This is that great thing I know;
This de­lights and stirs me so;
Faith in Him who died to save,
Him who tri­umphed ov­er the grave:
Jesus Christ, the Cru­ci­fied.