Sunday Hymn: When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

When I sur­vey the won­drous cross
On which the Prince of glo­ry died,
My rich­est gain I count but loss,
And pour con­tempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sac­ri­fice them to His blood.

See from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow min­gled down!
Did e’er such love and sor­row meet,
Or thorns com­pose so rich a crown?

His dy­ing crim­son, like a robe,
Spreads o’er His bo­dy on the tree;
Then I am dead to all the globe,
And all the globe is dead to me.

Were the whole realm of na­ture mine,
That were a pre­sent far too small;
Love so am­az­ing, so di­vine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.

To Christ, who won for sin­ners grace
By bit­ter grief and ang­uish sore,
Be praise from all the ran­somed race
Forever and for­ev­er­more.

—Isaac Watts

Theological Term of the Week: Prayer

prayer
“An offering up of our desires unto God, for things agreeable to his will, in the name of Christ, with confession of our sins, and thankful acknowledgment of his mercies.”1

• From scripture:

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior … . (1 Timothy 2:1-3 ESV)

• From the Heidelberg Catechism:

Question 116: Why is prayer necessary for Christians? 

Answer: Because prayer is the most important part of the thankfulness which God requires of us. Moreover, God will give His grace and the Holy Spirit only to those who constantly and with heartfelt longing ask Him for these gifts and thank Him for them.

Question 117: What belongs to a prayer which pleases God and is heard by Him?

Answer: First, we must from the heart call upon the one true God only, who has revealed Himself in His Word, for all that He has commanded us to pray.[1] Second, we must thoroughly know our need and misery, so that we may humble ourselves before God.[2] Third, we must rest on this firm foundation that, although we do not deserve it, God will certainly hear our prayer for the sake of Christ our Lord, as He has promised us in His Word.

Learn more:

1. Easton Bible Dictionary: Prayer
2. R. C. Sproul: The Place of Prayer
3. Derek Thomas: God-Centered Prayer
4. George Grant: Normal Prayer
5. R. C. Sproul: Prayer: A Discourse with God

Related terms:

• corporate prayer
• imprecation
• intercession of Christ
• priesthood of all believers
• worship

1Westminster Shorter Catechism, Question 98.

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Sunday Hymn: Come, Ye That Love the Lord

Come, we that love the Lord,
And let our joys be known;
Join in a song with sweet ac­cord,
Join in a song with sweet ac­cord
And thus sur­round the throne,
And thus sur­round the throne.

The sor­rows of the mind
Be ban­ished from the place;
Religion nev­er was de­signed
Religion nev­er was de­signed,
To make our plea­sures less,
To make our plea­sures less.

Let those re­fuse to sing,
Who nev­er knew our God;
But fa­vo­rites of the heav’n­ly King,
But fa­vo­rites of the heav’n­ly King
May speak their joys abroad,
May speak their joys abroad.

The God that rules on high,
And thun­ders when He please,
Who rides up­on the stor­my sky,
Who rides up­on the stor­my sky,
And man­ages the seas,
And man­ages the seas.

This aw­ful God is ours,
Our Fa­ther and our Love;
He will send down His heav’n­ly pow­ers,
He will send down His heav’n­ly pow­ers,
To car­ry us ab­ove,
To car­ry us ab­ove.

There we shall see His face,
And nev­er, nev­er sin!
There, from the riv­ers of His grace,
There, from the riv­ers of His grace,
Drink end­less plea­sures in,
Drink end­less plea­sures in.

Yea, and be­fore we rise,
To that im­mor­tal state,
The thoughts of such amaz­ing bliss,
The thoughts of such amaz­ing bliss,
Should con­stant joys cre­ate,
Should con­stant joys create.

The men of grace have found,
Glory be­gun be­low.
Celestial fruits on earth­ly ground
Celestial fruits on earth­ly ground
From faith and hope may grow,
From faith and hope may grow.

The hill of Zi­on yields
A thou­sand sac­red sweets
Before we reach the heav’n­ly fields,
Before we reach the heav’n­ly fields,
Or walk the gold­en streets,
Or walk the gold­en streets.

Then let our songs abound,
And ev­ery tear be dry;
We’re march­ing through Im­ma­nu­el’s ground,
We’re march­ing through Im­ma­nu­el’s ground,
To fair­er worlds on high,
To fair­er worlds on high.

—Isaac Watts