Words and music: Elizabeth Clephane (1830-1869)
and Fredrick Maker (1844-1920)
From: Guitar Picker - www.gospelmusic.org.uk

Beneath the Cross of Jesus

  D
Beneath the cross of Jesus 
  A7                 D
I fain would take my stand,
    Bm                 Em
The shadow of a mighty rock 
         Bdim  F#m
within a weary land;
  D               D7
A home within the wilderness,
  G     B       Em
a rest upon the way,
         A              D        D7
From the burning of the noontide heat, 
G       D      A7     D
and the burden of the day.

O safe and happy shelter, 
O refuge tried and sweet,
O trysting place where Heaven’s love 
and Heaven’s justice meet!
As to the holy patriarch 
that wondrous dream was given,
So seems my Saviour’s cross to me, 
a ladder up to heaven.

There lies beneath its shadow 
but on the further side
The darkness of an awful grave 
that gapes both deep and wide
And there between us stands the cross 
two arms outstretched to save
A watchman set to guard the way 
from that eternal grave.

Upon that cross of Jesus 
mine eye at times can see
The very dying form of One 
Who suffered there for me;
And from my stricken heart with tears 
two wonders I confess;
The wonders of redeeming love 
and my unworthiness.

I take, O cross, thy shadow 
for my abiding place;
I ask no other sunshine 
than the sunshine of His face;
Content to let the world go by 
to know no gain or loss,
My sinful self my only shame, 
my glory all the cross.