Sweet is the cross of Jesus

The Cross, written by Frederick Whitfield, is found on page 41 of Sacred Poems and Prose.

1. I saw the cross of Jesus

When burdened with my sin;

I sought the cross of Jesus

To give me peace within;

I brought my soul to Jesus,

He cleansed it in His blood;

And in the cross of Jesus

I found my peace with God.

2. I love the cross of Jesus,

It tells me what I am;

A vile and guilty creature,

Saved only through the Lamb;

No righteousness, nor merit,[i]

Nor beauty I can plead,

Yet in the cross of glory,

My title there I read.

3. I clasp the cross of Jesus

In every trying hour;

My sure and certain refuge,

My never-failing tower:

In every fear and conflict,

I more than conqueror am;

Living I’m safe, or dying,[ii]

Through Christ the risen Lamb.

4. Near to the cross of Jesus,[iii]

There let my weary heart

Still rest in peace unshaken,[iv]

Till life itself depart;

And then in strains of glory

I’ll sing His wondrous power,

Where sin can never enter,

And death is known no more.

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[i] Originally, “No righteous merit there.” I have left several lines with adaptations because they apparently were made to keep the meter consistent.

[ii] Originally, “For life is mine, and death is mine.”

[iii] Many modern printings have “Sweet is the cross of Jesus.”

[iv] Originally, “Still rest in perfect peace.”