"Welcome Cross"

A hymn written by William Cowper in Olney Hymns.

Hebrews 12:8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

"Welcome Cross"

1. ’Tis my happiness below
Not to live without the cross;
But the Saviour’s pow'r to know,
Sanctifying ev'ry loss:
Trials must and will befall;
But with humble faith to see
Love inscrib'd upon them all,
This is happiness to me.

2. God, in Israel, sows the seeds
Of affliction, pain, and toil;
These spring up, and choke the weeds
Which would else o’erspread the soil:
Trials make the promise sweet,
Trials give new life to pray'r;
Trials bring me to His feet,
Lay me low, and keep me there.

3. Did I meet no trials here,
No chastisement by the way;
Might I not, with reason, fear
I should prove a cast-away:
Bastards may escape the rod,
Sunk in earthly, vain delight;
But the true born child of God,
Must not, would not, if he might.

I like the melody used here: ’Tis My Happiness Below (hymntime.com)