The Cross

Once a thing of woe and shame,
Lo! the Cross now towers sublime!
Gath'ring lustre to its name,
In the onward march of Time;
Rais'd 'twixt malefactors twain,
" In the place call'd Calvary ";
Who may gauge the deep disdain,
Of men's vengeful mockery?
Thorns — but grapes upon them blush;
Gall — yet sweeter far than honey;
Thirst — and " living waters " gush;
Poor — but rich beyond all money;
Helpless all, in hands and feet,
Yet saves one, the lion's prey;
Terrible — but oh, how sweet!
Darkness — and yet clearest Day.
Branded — and thrice glorious;
Naked — yet the " white robe " weaves;
Conquered — and victorious;
Weak — yet the vast world upheaves;
Dead—and yet source of all life;
Woe — but symbol of all bliss;
Peace — and centre of all strife;
Was e'er paradox like this?
Sin's last trophy— and defeat;
Wrath — and heart of Love reveals;
Law upheld — yet pardon meet;
Justice, mercy, it unseals;
Man condemned — and yet acquitted;
Fix'd — jet round it all revolves;
Bitter tree ''—where White Dove flitted;
Mystery — and all mystery solves.
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Cross of Christ! in thee I boast,
Bearing high The Crucified;
And my heart when anguish-tost,
Finds peace only by Thy side;
Hold it up, ye men of God,
Earth's heart aches for your good news;
Tell it out at home, abroad,
Bid, accept it or refuse.
Mighty conquests of the past,
Shadow mightier to come;
The Lord's promise standeth fast.
Drawing countless myriads home;
Once a thing of woe and shame,
Lo! the Cross now stands sublime;
Gath'ring lustre to its name,
In the onward march of Time.