Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross Lyrics
Author: Fanny Crosby (1869)
1 Jesus, keep me near the cross,
There a precious fountain;
Free to all, a healing stream,
Flows from Calv’ry’s mountain.
Refrain:
In the cross, in the cross
Be my glory ever,
Till my ransomed soul shall find
Rest beyond the river.
2 Near the cross, a trembling soul,
Love and mercy found me;
There the Bright and Morning Star
Shed His beams around me. [Refrain]
3 Near the cross! O lamb of God,
Bring its scenes before me;
Help me walk from day to day
With its shadow o’er me. [Refrain]
4 Near the cross! I’ll watch and wait,
Hoping, trusting ever;
Till I reach the golden strand,
Just beyond the river. [Refrain]
Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross Hymn History
‘Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross’ is a hymn that was composed by Fanny J Crosby in 1869. Fanny Crosby was born on 24th March 1820 in New York.
She became blind at the tender age of six after a doctor made a mistake while treating her for an eye infection.
Though losing her sight was tragic she used that affliction to her advantage.
She actually said that had it not been for her blindness she might not have had a good education, or have the great memory she had, or achieve the influence she later had.
It is reported that she memorized the first four books of the Old Testament and four gospels before she turned ten.
Over her life she knew many passages of the bible by heart.
Later when she reached the age of fifteen her parents enrolled her at the New York Institution for the Blind.
After finishing her studies, she came back to the Institution as a teacher in 1847.
Her subjects at the institution were English Grammar, rhetoric, and American history.
While at the institution Fanny learnt how to play the piano and guitar and also received technical training in music.
In her life she composed thousands of songs or poems. Most of his poems were not set to music.
Many popular composers of her age used his works. These include Wm. B. Bradbury, Geo. F. Root, W. H. Doane, Rev. Robert Lowry, Ira D. Sankey, J. R. Sweney, W. J. Kirkpatrick, H. P. Main, H. P. Danks, Philip Phillips, B. G. Unseld, and others.
Her favorite hymn was ‘Safe in the Arms of Jesus“. Other hymns she composed include, ‘Pass Me Not Gentle Savior’, ‘Rescue the Perishing‘, ‘All the Way My Savior Leads Me‘, ‘To God be the Glory, Great things He Has Done‘ and ‘Little Beams of Rosy Light’.
Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross Hymn Video
video featuring the song, near the cross.
