The Cross (Methodius I)

Top Text Translator Author Text Info Timeline Page Scans Instances

Are thy toils and woes increasing

Translator: John Mason Neale (1862); Author: Methodius I (836)
Published in 10 hymnals

Representative Text

Are thy toils and woes increasing?
Are the Foe’s attacks unceasing?
Look with Faith unclouded,
Gaze with eyes unshrouded,
On the Cross!

Dost thou fear that strictest trial?
Tremblest thou at CHRIST’s denial?
Never rest without it,
Clasp thine hands about it,
—That dear Cross.

Diabolic legions press thee?
Thoughts and works of sin distress thee?
It shall chase all terror,
It shall right all error,
That sweet Cross!

Draw’st thou nigh to Jordan’s river?
Should’st thou tremble? Need’st thou quiver?
No! if by it lying,—
No! if on it dying,—
On the Cross!

Say then,—“Master, while I cherish
That sweet hope, I cannot perish!
After this life’s story,
Give Thou me the glory
For the Cross!”

Hymns of the Eastern Church, 1866

All representative texts • Compare texts ^ top

Translator: John Mason Neale

John M. Neale's life is a study in contrasts: born into an evangelical home, he had sympathies toward Rome; in perpetual ill health, he was incredibly productive; of scholarly temperament, he devoted much time to improving social conditions in his area; often ignored or despised by his contemporaries, he is lauded today for his contributions to the church and hymnody. Neale's gifts came to expression early–he won the Seatonian prize for religious poetry eleven times while a student at Trinity College, Cambridge, England. He was ordained in the Church of England in 1842, but ill health and his strong support of the Oxford Movement kept him from ordinary parish ministry. So Neale spent the years between 1846 and 1866 as a warden of Sackvi… Go to person page >

Author: Methodius I

(no biographical information available about Methodius I.) Go to person page >

^ top

Text Information

Text Information

First Line:	Are thy toils and woes increasing
Title:	The Cross (Methodius I)
Original Language:	Latin
Author:	Methodius I (836)
Translator:	John Mason Neale (1862)
Meter:	7.7.6.6.3
Language:	English
Copyright:	Public Domain