Fanny Crosby is one of America’s best loved hymn writers. She was blinded at six weeks of age by a quack doctor. Of her blindness Fanny said: “It seemed intended by the blessed providence of God that I should be blind all my life, and I thank him for the dispensation. If perfect earthly sight were offered me tomorrow I would not accept it. I might not have sung hymns to the praise of God if I had been distracted by the beautiful and interesting things about me.” Fanny had an agreement with publishers to write three hymns a week for use in their Sunday school publications; her hymns were aimed at bringing the message of the Gospel to people who would not listen to preaching. She prayed God over each hymn asking that He would use it to lead many souls to Him. She wrote well over 8000 hymns! Moody and Sankey used them in their campaigns and brought Fanny Crosby’s hymns to the masses.
1.
Jesus, keep me near the cross,
There a precious fountain,
Free to all, a healing stream,
Flows from Calvary’s mountain.
Refrain
In the Cross, in the Cross,
Be my glory ever;
Till my raptured soul shall find
Rest beyond the river.
2.
Near the Cross, a trembling soul,
Love and mercy found me;
There the bright and morning Star
Sheds its beams around me.
Refrain
In the Cross, in the Cross,
Be my glory ever;
Till my raptured soul shall find
Rest beyond the river.
3.
Near the Cross! O Lamb of God,
Bring its scenes before me;
Help me walk from day to day,
With its shadows o’er me.
Refrain
In the Cross, in the Cross,
Be my glory ever;
Till my raptured soul shall find
Rest beyond the river.
4.
Near the Cross I’ll watch and wait
Hoping, trusting ever,
Till I reach the golden strand,
Just beyond the river.
Refrain
In the Cross, in the Cross,
Be my glory ever;
Till my raptured soul shall find
Rest beyond the river.
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