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Near the Cross

And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of Skull, which
is called in Hebrew, Golgotha. John 19:17

Fanny Crosby was born in Putnam County, New York, in 1820, and was
blinded in infancy through the malpractice of a doctor. In 1835, she
enrolled in a school for the blind in New York City, staying there twelve
years, first as a student then as a teacher. Her remarkable poetry brought
widespread acclaim to the school, and she frequently recited her work for
visiting dignitaries.

In 1850, Fanny, thirty, attended a revival meeting at New York's Thirtieth Street
Methodist Church. During these services, she felt something was missing in her life
On two occasions during the meetings, she prayed with counselors, but without
gaining assurance of a personal relationship with God. On November 20, 1850, as the
altar call was given, Fanny went forward and found Christ as her Savior. The
congregation was singing Isaac Watts' great hymn about the cross:

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.

Shortly thereafter, Fanny turned her poetic skills to hymn writing, and many of
her songs focused on the theme of the cross, such as "At the Cross, There's Room,"
"Blessed Cross," "Room at the Cross," "Save Me at the Cross," and this one, "Jesus
Keep Me Near the Cross." It was composed after Cincinnati businessman William
Doane gave her a melody he had written. Fanny, listening to it, felt is said, "Jesus,
keep me near the cross," and she promptly wrote the words.

Refrain:

In the cross, in the cross,
Be my glory ever,
"Til my raptured soul shall find
Rest beyond the river.

Jesus keep me near the cross,
There a precious fountain,
Free to all, a healing stream,
Flows from Calvary's mountain.
Refrain

Near the cross, a trembling soul,
Love and mercy found me;
There the bright and Morning Star
Shed its beams around me.
Refrain

Near the cross! O Lamb of God,
Bring its scenes before me;
Help me walk from day to day,
With its shadows o'er me.
Refrain

Near the cross I'll watch and wait,
Hoping, trusting ever,
'Til I reach the golden strand
Just beyond the river.
Refrain