In the cross of Christ I glory,
Towering o’er the wrecks of time;
All the light of sacred story
Gathers round its head sublime.
When the woes of life o’ertake me,
Hopes deceive and fears annoy.
Never shall the cross forsake me.
Lo, it glows with peace and joy.
When the sun of bliss is beaming
Light and love upon my way,
From the cross the radiance streaming,
Adds more lustre to the day.
Bane and blessing, pain and pleasure,
By the cross are sanctified;
Peace is there that knows no measure,
Joys that through all time abide.
John Bowring (1792-1872).
Will 'peace' come to Gaza? What sort of peace will reconcile Israel and Palestine? A Unitarian and distinguished linguist, John Bowring was first elected to Parliament in 1835, and appointed Governor of Hong Cong in 1854. It is said that one time, when Bowring sailed past the coast of Macao, China, he saw the remains of an old church that had been destroyed by a typhoon. Above the ruins, he saw the church's cross still standing and was inspired to write “In the Cross of Christ I Glory.” The hymn is a reflection of S. Paul’s words: 'God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world (Galatians 6:14).
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