7,7,7,7

Der am Kreuz ist meine Liebe

[82]Greding. Born 1676.

Him on yonder cross I love,

Nought beside on earth count dear!

May He mine for ever prove,

Who is now so inly near!

Here I stand: whate'er may come,

Days of sunshine or of gloom,

From this word I will not move;

Him upon the cross I love!

'Tis not hidden from my heart,

What true love must often bring;

Want and grief have sorest smart,

Care and scorn can sharply sting;

Nay, but if Thy will were such,

Bitterest death were not too much!

Dark though here my course may prove:

Him upon the cross I love!

Rather sorrows such as these,

Rather love's acutest pain,

Than without Him days of ease,

Riches false and honours vain.

Count me strange, when I am true,

What He hates I will not do;

Sneers no more my heart can move;

Him upon the cross I love!

Know ye whence my strength is drawn,

Fearless thus the fight to wage?

Why my heart can laugh to scorn

Fleshly weakness, Satan's rage?

'Tis, I know the love of Christ,

Mighty is that love unpriced!

What can grieve me, what can move?

Him upon the cross I love!

Once the eyes that now are dim,

Shall discern the changeless love

That hath led us home to Him,

That hath crown'd us far above:

Would to God that all below

What that love is now might know,

And their hearts this word approve:

Him upon the cross I love!