Lord, as to Thy Dear Cross

Representative Text

1 Lord, as to thy dear cross we flee,
and plead to be forgiven,
so let thy life our pattern be,
and form our souls for heaven.

2 Help us, through good report and ill,
our daily cross to bear:
like thee, to do our Father’s will,
our brethren’s grief to share.

3 Let grace our selfishness expel,
our earthliness refine;
and kindness in our bosoms dwell,
as free and true as thine.

4 If joy shall at thy bidding fly,
and grief’s dark day come on,
we in our turn would meekly cry,
'Father, thy will be done.'

5 Kept peaceful in the midst of strife,
forgiving and forgiven,
O may we lead the pilgrim’s life
and follow thee to heaven.

Source: CPWI Hymnal #505

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Author: John Hampden Gurney

Gurney, John Hampden, M.A., eldest son of Sir John Gurney, a Baron of the Exchequer, was born in Serjeants’ Inn, London, Aug. 15, 1802, and educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he graduated in 1824. On taking Holy Orders he became Curate of Lutterworth (1827-1844), and subsequently Rector of St. Mary's, Marylebone, and Prebendary of St. Paul's Cathedral. He died in London, March 8, 1862. The Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge and other religious societies had his cordial sympathy, and received his active support. His publications include several small volumes in prose, and the following:— (1) Church Psalmody; Hints for the improvement of a Collection of Hymns published by the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 1… Go to person page >

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First Line:	Lord, as to Thy dear cross we flee
Title:	Lord, as to Thy Dear Cross
Author:	John Hampden Gurney (1838)
Meter:	8.6.8.6
Language:	English
Copyright:	Public Domain

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Lord, as to Thy dear Cross we flee. J. H. Gurney. [Resignation, or The Daily Cross.] First published in his Lutterworth Collection of Hymns, 1838, No. 127, in 6 stanzas of 4 lines, and again in the Mary-le-bone Psalms & Hymns, 1851, No. 112. It is given in numerous collections in Great Britain and America, and sometimes as, "As to Thy Cross, dear Lord, we flee." Another altered form is "Lord, as we put our trust in Thee," in Common Praise, 1879.

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Notes

Lord, as to Thy dear Cross we flee. J. H. Gurney. [Resignation, or The Daily Cross.] First published in his Lutterworth Collection of Hymns, 1838, No. 127, in 6 stanzas of 4 lines, and again in the Mary-le-bone Psalms & Hymns, 1851, No. 112. It is given in numerous collections in Great Britain and America, and sometimes as, "As to Thy Cross, dear Lord, we flee." Another altered form is "Lord, as we put our trust in Thee," in Common Praise, 1879.

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

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