Christ, of all my hopes the ground

[anna274]

Isaiah 28:16  I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation.


CHRIST, OF ALL MY HOPES THE GROUND  by Hendon, 1827

Christ, of all my hopes -  the ground;
Christ, spring of all my joy;
Still in Thee may I be found,
Still for Thee my powers employ,
Still for Thee my powers employ.

...

When affliction clouds my sky,
And the wintry tempest blow,
Let Thy mercy beaming eye
Sweetly cheer the night of woe,
Sweetly cheer the night of woe.

When new triumphs of Thy NAME
Swell the raptured songs above,
May I feel a kindred flame,
Full of zeal, and full of love,
Full of zeal, and full of love.

Life's best joy, to see Thy praise
Fly on wings of Gospel light,
Leading on millennial days,
Scattering all the shades of night!
Scattering all the shades of night!

Fountain of overflowing grace,
Freely from Thy fullness give;
Till I close my earthly race,
May I prove it "Christ to live!"
May I prove it "Christ to live!"

....

JESUS, my redeeming Lord,
Be Thou then in mercy near!
Let Thy smile of love  :HeartThrob: afford
Full relief from all my fear,
Full relief from all my fear.

Firmly trusting in Thy blood,
Nothing shall my heart confound;
Safely I shall pass the flood,
Safely reach Emmanuel's ground,
Safely reach Emmanuel's ground.

...

Thus, O thus, an entrance give
To the land of cloudless sky;
Having known it "Christ to live,"
Let me know it "gain to die,"
Let me know it "gain to die."

[Ross]

 :thumbsup:

As he says" For me to live is Christ, to die is gain."
Paul says that a few times.
" It is no longer I who lives, but Christ who lives in me."
This concept seems to be what Christ says in "Take up your cross daily."
The Sabbath which pushes no work also seems to show that we are not to work for our salvation since it is what Christ did for us when He died in our place.
Paul says in;
1 Cor 15;31 " Every day do I die by the glorying of you that I have in Christ Jesus our Lord."

He seems to use this as an illustration since he is not physically dead.
Not by works but by grace so that no man can boast.
True equality before our Father IN CHRIST.