Scripture Verse

May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Galatians 6:14

Introduction

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John Bowring (1792–1872)
National Portrait Gallery

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Words: John Bow­ring, Hymns (Lon­don: Row­land Hunt­er, 1825), num­ber 63.

Music: Rath­bun Ith­amar Con­key, 1849 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tunes:

Anecdote

Tradition says that while Bow­ring was gov­er­nor of Hong Kong, he vis­it­ed near­by Ma­cao and saw the ru­ins of St. Paul’s Ca­the­dral, which was gut­ted by fire in 1835. Above the ru­ins, he saw the church’s cross still stand­ing.

The sto­ry is apoc­ry­phal, though—the hymn was pub­lished a de­cade be­fore the fire, and over 20 years be­fore Bow­ring was in Hong Kong: He be­came Brit­ish con­sul in 1849, and gov­er­nor in 1854.

Lyrics

In the cross of Christ I glo­ry,
Towering o’er the wrecks of time;
All the light of sac­red sto­ry
Gathers round its head sub­lime.

When the woes of life o’er­take me—
Hopes de­ceive, and fears an­noy,
Never shall the cross for­sake me,
Lo! it glows with peace and joy.

When the sun of bliss is beam­ing
Light and love up­on my way,
From the cross the ra­di­ance stream­ing
Adds more lus­ter to the day.

Bane and bless­ing, pain and plea­sure,
By the cross are sanc­ti­fied;
Peace is there that knows no mea­sure,
Joys that through all time abide.

In the cross of Christ I glo­ry,
Towering o’er the wrecks of time;
All the light of sac­red sto­ry
Gathers round its head sub­lime.

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Glorification of the Cross
Adam Elsheimer (1578–1610)