Wonders of the Cross

Nature with open volume stands,
To spread her Maker's praise abroad;
And every labour of His hands
Shows something worthy of our God.

But in the grace that rescued man
His brightest form of glory shines;
Here on the cross, 'tis fairest drawn
In precious blood and crimson lines.

Here I behold His inmost heart,
Where grace and vengeance strangely join,
Piercing His Son with sharpest smart,
To make the purchased pleasure mine.

Oh, the sweet wonders of that cross,
Where God the Saviour loved and died!
Its noblest life my spirit draws
From His dear wounds and pierced side.

I would for ever speak His name,
In sounds to mortal ears unknown;
With angels join to praise the Lamb,
And worship at His Father's throne.

Isaac Watts, 1709
altered
No. 289 in C.H. Spurgeon's Our Own Hymnbook

Colossians 1:19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; 20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

grpahics by mary vannattan