"I Am Coming To The Cross"

In 1870, Pastor William McDonald (1820-1901) created “I Am Coming To The Cross” because he saw that people coming to the altar needed a simple hymn with a pure message. William G. Fischer had created a tune with two lines of lyrics to the chorus already. After hearing the tune and those two lines one afternoon, McDonald was able to quickly create the rest of the words to “I Am Coming To The Cross.”

“I Am Coming To The Cross” was published in 1871 in the The American Baptist Praise Book but was sung for the first time at a National Camp Meeting, in Hamilton, Mass., June 22, 1870. The hymn has several language translations and its lyrics are sung all over the world.

“I Am Coming To The Cross”

I am coming to the cross;
I am poor and weak and blind;
I am counting all but dross;
I shall full salvation find.

Refrain

I am trusting, Lord, in Thee.
Blessèd Lamb of Calvary;
Humbly at Thy cross I bow.
Save me, Jesus, save me now.

Long my heart has sighed for Thee;
Long has evil reigned within;
Jesus sweetly speaks to me:
“I will cleanse you from all sin.”

Refrain

Here I give my all to Thee:
Friends and time and earthly store;
Soul and body Thine to be,
Wholly Thine forevermore.

Refrain

In the promises I trust;
Now I feel the blood applied;
I am prostrate in the dust;
I with Christ am crucified.

Refrain

Jesus comes! He fills my soul!
Perfected in Him I am;
I am every whit made whole:
Glory, glory to the Lamb!

Refrain

The hymnist, McDonald was a Methodist Episcopal pastor at 19, and during his lifetime joined three different Methodist Conferences. In addition to his pastoral duties, he edited and several books on religious subject, including several collections of music that included the hymn “I Am Coming To The Cross.”

“I Am Coming To The Cross”

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