January 17, 2020 (Friday)
Until Isaac Watts came upon the scene, congregations of the Church of England sang only Old Testament Psalms when they worshiped together. Isaac Watts felt that Christians needed to sing the type of music that would more accurately represent all that is involved in our personal relationship with Jesus Christ our Savior. “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” was one of the songs included in his first hymnbook. He intended it to be used when observing the Lord’s Supper. This hymn has a special beauty all its own.
In our home church, Liberty Road Baptist Church of Houston, seventy one years ago, when four of us boys around 17 years of age discovered that we could harmonize with each other, we formed a quartet. Lead singer was Maurice Smith, Baritone was Randy Howard, Tenor was Manuel Guerrero, and I was bass. We sang only acapella. I say this objectively in behalf of our quartet: we were really good. This hymn was one of our favorites. (After we completed our senior year of high school, we went our separate ways. As far as I can remember, we may have sung a few times when we happened to be at church at the same time). The music director of the church helped us, and he added a finale to “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross.” he suggested adding, in dramatic fashion, after we had sung all the verses, the last words, gradually moving from unison to harmony: “Demands my soul, my life, my all!” That was great and was always our finale.
I suggest you view this video in full screen:
Words by Isaac Watts, 1707
Music by Lowell Mason, 1824
When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.
Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood.
See from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down!
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?
Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.