359.  The Old Rugged Cross

1
On a hill far away
stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suff'ring and shame;
And I love that old cross
where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.

Chorus
So I'll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.

2
Oh, the old rugged cross,
so despised by the world,
Has a wondrous attraction for me;
For the dear Lamb of God
left His glory above
To bear it to dark Calvary.

3
In the old rugged cross,
stained with His precious blood,
A wondrous beauty I see;
For 'twas on that old cross
Jesus suffered and died
To pardon and sanctify me.

4
To the old rugged cross I will ever be true,
Its shame and reproach gladly bear;
Then He'll call me some day to my home far away,
Where His glory forever I'll share.