Beneath the Cross of Jesus

A great hymn, with many references to the Old Testament.  Singers today, however, have no clear understanding of what "fain" means and thus miss the sense of the opening words of the hymn.  Rather than take on the task of educating believers in archaic English, one can recognize a need for hymn renewal.  And along the way, let's clarify "trysting place," who the "Holy Patriarch" actually was, and the sense here of the heart being "smitten."

Original lyrics:

Beneath the cross of Jesus
I FAIN would take my stand,
The shadow of a mighty rock
Within a weary land,
A home within the wilderness,
A rest upon the way
From the burning of the noontide heat,
And the burden of the day.

O safe and happy shelter,
O refuge tried and sweet,
O TRYSTING place where heaven’s love
And heaven’s justice meet!
As to the HOLY PATRIARCH
That wondrous dream was giv’n,
So seems my Savior’s cross to me,
A ladder up to heav’n.

Upon that cross of Jesus,
MINE EYE at times can see
The very dying form of One
Who suffered there for me;
And from my SMITTEN heart, with tears
Two wonders I confess;
The wonders of His glorious love,
And my own worthlessness.

I take, O cross, THY shadow
For my abiding place;
I ask no other sunshine than
The sunshine of His face;
Content to let the world go by,
To know no gain nor loss,
My sinful self my only shame,
My glory all the cross!

Lyrics by Elizabeth C. Celphane 

Comments and Suggestions:

Dictionaries reveal that "fain" refers to a happy, pleased, willing, desirous attitude, sometimes even to the level of being compelled.  Within this range of meaning -- all of which seem to express a degree of volition -- the exact gradation intended by Ms. Clephane is unclear.  A lyric along the lines of “I’M GLAD/PLEASED to take my stand” would be one possibility, but seems out of character with the melody.  A simple, straightforward sense of willingness or desire seems more appropriate.  "I WANT TO TAKE MY STAND" has therefore been chosen.  To the extent this can imply that the singer has been as yet unable to fully commit to Christ, this is a situation common to us all as we assess our lives as Christians.  Personally, this writer always intuited that the lyric referred to being compelled -- willingly, though -- to take a stand for Christ, presumably by the force of His grace.  But that's just a individual impression of Ms. Clephane's intent, and "want" suffices.

GRACE STRUCK preserves the sense of being “hit” with impact of the cross.  BROKEN would also work, emphasizing the result of being struck by God’s grace. “Smitten,” however, no longer is linked by singers to the verb “SMITE” and is currently used primarily for a sudden romantic attraction.

Renewal lyrics:

Beneath the cross of Jesus
I WANT TO take my stand, 
The shadow of a mighty rock
Within a weary land,
A home within the wilderness,
A rest upon the way
From the burning of the noontide heat,
And the burden of the day.

O safe and happy shelter,
O refuge tried and sweet,
THE CROSS IS where ALL heaven’s love
And heaven’s justice meet!
JUST LIKE TO JACOB LONG AGO
That wondrous dream was giv’n,
So seems my Savior’s cross to me,
A ladder up to heav’n.

Upon that cross of Jesus,
MY EYES at times can see
The very dying form of One
Who suffered there for me;
And from my GRACE STRUCK heart, with tears
Two wonders I confess;
The wonders of His glorious love,
And my own worthlessness.

I take, O cross, YOUR shadow
For my abiding place;
I ask no other sunshine than
The sunshine of His face;
Content to let the world go by,
To know no gain nor loss,
My sinful self, my only shame,
My glory all the cross!

Renewal lyric changes by RH Reinhard (c) 2014