San Francisco Central Seventh-day Adventist Church

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163 At the Cross

Words: Isaac Watts (1674-1748)
Music: Ralph E. Hudson (1843-1901)

Isaac Watts wrote six stanzas of this hymn in 1707 under the title, "Godly Sorrow Arrising From the Sufferings of Christ." Through the years, editors have made a number of alterations. Some of us can remember when the final line of the first stanza was, "...for such a worm as I."

The words of the refrain were added by composer Ralph Hudson when he wrote the tune for the text. It was first published in 1885. There is some evidence that Hudson adapted what was probably a very popular song and used it with only a couple of note changes for the refrain of this hymn.

Hymwriter Fanny Crosby said her "soul flooded with a celestial light" at the time of her conversion, when this hymn was sung.

Alas! and did my Savior bleed,
and did my Sovereign die?
Would he devote that sacred head
for sinners such as I?

Refrain
At the cross, at the cross,
where I first saw the light,
and the burden of my heart rolled away;
it was there by faith I received my sight,
and now I am happy all the day!

Was it for crimes that I have done,
he groaned upon the tree?
Amazing pity! Grace unknown!
And love beyond degree!

Refrain
At the cross, at the cross,
where I first saw the light,
and the burden of my heart rolled away;
it was there by faith I received my sight,
and now I am happy all the day!

But drops of grief can ne'er repay
the debt of love I owe:
Here, Lord, I give myself away;
'tis all that I can do!

Refrain
At the cross, at the cross,
where I first saw the light,
and the burden of my heart rolled away;
it was there by faith I received my sight,
and now I am happy all the day!