the 4th stanza of when i survey the wondrous cross

I really love this song of Isaac Watts, i happened to read that Charles Wesley would have given up all of his hymn to have written it. I especially cherish the 1st stanza, the part that said "on which the Prince of Glory died" is just powerful, to say the least.

Nevertheless, i fail to fully understand what the author meant on the 4th stanza (i'm not a native speaker, let alone a 17th century speaker :D ) which goes:

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
\tthat were an offering far too small;
\tlove so amazing, so divine,
\tdemands my soul, my life, my all.

Can anybody help please...

ps: I'm looking forward to hearing from you guys (and am just thrilled that this one would not end up with pointless debate). Praise God for the anointing He put on this song...

Blessings

Phenomenal hymn.

The writer meant:

"If I had all the world (were the whole realm of nature mine), it wouldn't be enough of an offering to be worthy of You (that were an offering far too small). Your amazing, divine love deserves everything I have to give (Love so amazing, so divine demands my soul, my life, my all).

That's my understanding and paraphrase. I hope that helps.

Even if everything in the (created) world was mine,
That would be a present far too small for me to give to You!
Your love, which so amazing and so divine,
Calls for me to give You more than my possessions, it calls me to give You my entire self! --my all!!

I hope this is an understandable paraphrase for you. I love this song, too; it is one of my favorites!

savedtoserve

Thank you guys. it is understandable (i'm not just used to English poetry)

Now it's clearer!!! it's very poetic, i like it.

It's a wonderful hymn, what ever happened to the anointing and the inspiration from The Holy Spirit... I know, few songs are still worth listening but in general, most of CCM songs are shallow.

In closing, may I exhort us to SURVEY (that is to study thoroughly from several perspectives. As engineer within the field of telecommunications, I usually perform surveys, My job is to check: the possible obstructions, the required height of the tower, the frequency planning, etc., i mean, my purpose is not to bore you :D ) again that wondrous cross on which the Prince of Glory died, I believe that many truths therein are yet to be discovered, our view is still hindered by countless obstructions...

Blessings

How about the stanza that is usually omitted from all hymnbooks and versions:

"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."

Charles Wesley re­port­ed­ly said he would give up all his other hymns to have writ­ten this one.

Here's my attempt to clarify the meaning:

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
If the entire contents of all that has been created belonged to me

that were an offering far too small;
that (all that has been created) would be, for an offering too small (not big enough of an offering)

love so amazing, so divine,
Such a surprisingly great and supremely Godly love

demands my soul, my life, my all.
Deserves that I give as an offering my soul, my life, and all that is mine.

Thanks for that verse, Paul.

And Isaac Watts would have given all his poems to have written Come, O Thou Traveler Unknown or Wrestling Jacob. This one is a lasting favorite for me also. (http://www.hymntime.com/tch/htm/c/o/m/comeotho.htm)

by PaulWest on 2011/7/14 5:27:57 How about the stanza that is usually omitted from all hymnbooks and versions: "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."

Oh wow! That is beautiful!!! That is sooooo sad that it's omitted. I had to specifically google that verse to get a version with it in it.
I also hadn't heard this verse:

"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."

And I found this verse too, it wasn't written by Isaac Watts but was added:

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

Even if it was added, I still think it's a good verse. :)

This is one of my favorite songs of all time. I'm so happy to learn these new verses! Thanks!

btw, the following is my favorite interpretation of the song. David Phelps' perf is just amazing!!!

[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tUZrxqAzeA[/url]