Today’s hymn isn’t the typical Palm Sunday theme, because I’ve been thinking about the cross lately and meant to post another hymn on the cross last Sunday. Isaac Watts on this favorite in 1707 as a communion hymn, and it’s become a beloved Easter hymn. The tune sung above was adapted from a Gregorian chant by prolific hymn tune writer Lowell Mason (1792-1872), “the father of American church music.”

“But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” (Galatians 6:14 ESV)

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.

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.

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?

4 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.

We’re approaching Easter, friends. Today’s hymn comes from German hymnist and missionary Nikolaus Ludwig, Reichsgraf von Zinzendorf und Pottendorf (1700-1760). It was translated into English by the great John Wesley (1703-1791).

“. . . justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.” (Romans 3: 24-25 ESV)

1 JESUS, Thy blood and righteousness
My beauty are, my glorious dress;
Midst flaming worlds, in these arrayed,
With joy shall I lift up my head.

2 When from the dust of death I rise,
To claim my mansion in the skies–
E’en then this shall be all my plea,
“Jesus hath lived and died for me.”

3 Bold shall I stand in Thy great day,
For who aught to my charge shall lay?
Fully through these absolved I am
From sin and fear, from guilt and shame.

4 This spotless robe the same appears,
When ruined nature sinks in years;
No age can change its glorious hue;
Thy blood preserves it ever new.

5 And when the dead shall hear Thy voice,
Thy banished children shall rejoice;
Their beauty this, their glorious dress,
Jesus, Thy blood and righteousness!

Today’s hymn is another one written for vespers. Methodist Episcopalian Mary Ann Lathbury (1841-1913) wrote “Day Is Dying in the West” in 1880 for the vesper services of the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle. It also popular among Seventh Day Adventists.

“How precious is your steadfast love, O God!
The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings.”
(Ps 36:7 ESV)

1 Day is dying in the west;
Heav’n is touching earth with rest;
Wait and worship while the night
Sets her evening lamps alight
Through all the sky.
Refrain:
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Hosts!
Heav’n and earth are full of Thee;
Heav’en and earth are praising Thee,
O Lord most high!

2 Lord of life, beneath the dome
Of the universe, Thy home,
Gather us who seek Thy face
To the fold of Thy embrace,
For Thou art nigh. [Refrain]

3 While the deep’ning shadows fall,
Heart of Love, enfolding all,
Through the glory and the grace
Of the stars that veil Thy face,
Our hearts ascend. [Refrain]

4 When forever from our sight
Pass the stars, the day, the night,
Lord of angels, on our eyes
Let eternal morning rise,
And shadows end. [Refrain]

Today’s hymn is one for the evening. Does your church hold evening services? We dropped them many years ago, but about two years ago, we began holding an eventide prayer service monthly. This hymn was written by English architect James Edmeston (1791-1867) of Middlesex. He wrote about 2,000 hymn, many for children. He served at St. Barnabas church in Homerton, Middlesex, and supported the London Orphan Asylum.

“In peace I will both lie down and sleep;
for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.” (Psalm 4:8 ESV)

1 Saviour, breath an evening blessing,
Ere repose our spirits seal;
Sin and want we come confessing:
Thou canst save, and thou canst heal.

2 Though destruction walk around us,
Though the arrow past us fly,
Angel-guards from thee surround us;
We are safe if thou art nigh.

3 Though the night be dark and dreary,
Darkness cannot hide from thee;
Thou art he who, never weary,
Watchest where thy people be.

4 Should swift death this night o’ertake us,
And our couch become our tomb,
May the morn in heav’n awake us,
Clad in light and deathless bloom.

Today’s hymn is one I think I’ve sung my whole life, but I can’t remember the last time I sang it. Perhaps that’s because it so common to me I don’t note when we sing it, but it may be that it has that tent revival quality to it that places it lower on the list of hymns my church tends to choose.

New Yorker Fanny Crosby (1820-1915) wrote “Praise Him! Praise Him!” in 1869. The tune by Chester G. Allen (1838-1878) of Cleveland, Ohio, is primarily associated with her text.

“Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised
in the city of our God!
His holy mountain, beautiful in elevation,
is the joy of all the earth,
Mount Zion, in the far north,
the city of the great King.” (Ps. 48: 1-2 ESV)

1 Praise him! praise him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!
Sing, O earth, his wonderful love proclaim!
Hail him! hail him! highest archangels in glory;
Strength and honor give to his holy Name!
Like a shepherd, Jesus will guard his children,
In his arms he carries them all day long:

Refrain:
Praise him! praise him! tell of his excellent greatness,
Praise him! praise him! ever in joyful song!

2 Praise him! praise him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!
For our sins he suffered, and bled, and died;
He our Rock, our hope of eternal salvation,
Hail him! hail him! Jesus the Crucified.
Sound his praises! Jesus who bore our sorrows,
Love unbounded, wonderful, deep and strong: [Refrain]

3 Praise him! praise him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!
Heav’nly portals loud with hosannas ring!
Jesus, Saviour, reigneth for ever and ever;
Crown him! crown him! Prophet, and Priest, and King!
Christ is coming! Over the world victorious,
Pow’r and glory unto the Lord belong: [Refrain]

Today’s hymn comes from the Massachusetts-born minister William Orcutt Cushing (1823-1902). It expresses a theme common to popular hymns, that of trusting the Lord through difficulties.

“The Lord repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge!” (Ruth 2:12 ESV)

1 Under His wings I am safely abiding.
Tho’ the night deepens and tempests are wild,
Still I can trust Him; I know He will keep me.
He has redeemed me, and I am His child.

Refrain:
Under His wings, under His wings,
Who from His love can sever?
Under His wings my soul shall abide,
Safely abide forever.

2 Under His wings, what a refuge in sorrow!
How the heart yearningly turns to His rest!
Often when earth has no balm for my healing,
There I find comfort, and there I am blest. [Refrain]

3 Under His wings, oh, what precious enjoyment!
There will I hide till life’s trials are o’er;
Sheltered, protected, no evil can harm me.
Resting in Jesus, I’m safe evermore. [Refrain]

A gospel song that has captured the imagination of many Americans is the 1932 piece written by Oklahoma native Albert E. Brumley called, “I’ll Fly Away.” Brumley wrote over 800 songs and is honored in the Country Song Writers Hall of Fame. The lyric is still under copyright, so I won’t copy it here, but maybe you know half of the words already.

“The years of our life are seventy,
or even by reason of strength eighty;
yet their span is but toil and trouble;
they are soon gone, and we fly away” (Ps 90:10 ESV).