Glory to His Name

Words: Elisha Albright Hoffman (b. May 7, 1839; d. Nov. 25, 1929)
Music: John Hart Stockton (b. Apr. 19, 1813; d. March 25, 1877)

Note: Elisha Hoffman was an American pastor who also wrote many gospel songs. (Over eleven hundred of them are listed on the Cyber Hymnal.) John Stockton was an evangelist with the Methodist Episcopal church. He also wrote the tune for The Great Physician, and words and music for Only Trust Him.

A different version of this hymn was first published in 1878 with a tune by John Sweney, but the next year it appeared in the format we know today, with Stockton’s tune. You can see both versions on Hymnary.org (link below).

(Stanza numbers in brackets below refer to the stanza number in The Cyber Hymnal. Find the link at the bottom of the article.)

There is no doubt about Pastor Hoffman’s passion to proclaim the message of salvation. It can be seen in so many of his hymns–What a Wonderful Saviour, and Are You Washed in the Blood? for example. Even more direct is a lesser known song, Where Will You Spend Eternity?

The present song is deceptively simple. Only one word (wondrously) has more than two syllables. And while the hymn does use imagery to portray a spiritual transaction, it is largely biblical imagery, and easily understood.

Stanza (1). The Lord Jesus Christ died upon the cross of Calvary to pay our debt of sin (I Cor. 15:3). When we come to the cross, in faith and call upon the Lord for cleansing, the saving power of the blood is applied to us and we are redeemed (Jn. 3:16; I Pet. 1:18-19). In that assurance, we “give unto the Lord the glory [honour] due to His name” (Ps. 29:2; cf. Eph. 1:12).

(1) Down at the cross where my Saviour died,
Down where for cleansing from sin I cried,
There to my heart was the blood applied;
Glory to His name!

Glory to His name, glory to His name:
There to my heart was the blood applied;
Glory to His name!

(2). Faith brings a confident testimony. Not only am I saved eternally, but I have the Saviour abiding within, through His Spirit, and the knowledge that “He took me in, and I’ve become His child, a part of His forever family (Gal. 3:26; I Jn. 3:1-2).

(2) I am so wondrously saved from sin,
Jesus so sweetly abides within;
There at the cross where He took me in;
Glory to His name!

(3). The saving power of the cross is more than a point-in-time thing. Through His Holy Spirit, and by the application of the Word of God, the Lord not only saves me but “keeps me clean” (Eph. 5:26; I Jn. 1:7, 9). As we ponder what God has done for us, it is a source of abiding joy and gladness (Isa. 61:10).

(3) Oh, precious fountain that saves from sin,
I am so glad I have entered in;
There Jesus saves me and keeps me clean;
Glory to His name!

(4). Will we not, in the growing realization of what God has done for us, want others to share in this wonderful salvation (I Pet. 3:15)? Hoffman issues an invitation to others, assuring them of completeness in Christ. This is a new thought. Not only is the sinner lost and hell-bound because of his sin, he is incomplete. He is not all that God wants Him to be and can make him. Positionally, he lacks a righteous standing with God (Rom. 3:23). Conditionally he is spiritually dead (Eph. 2:1), insensitive to the Spirit, and powerless to please God. Through Christ, all of that changes (Col. 2:9-10; Eph. 1:13-14).

(4) Come to this fountain so rich and sweet,
Cast thy poor soul at the Saviour’s feet;
Plunge in today, and be made complete;
Glory to His name!

Questions:

1. Are you a Christian? If so, how do you know it?
2. What other hymns make a clear presentation of the gospel?

Links:

• 7 May 1839 – Elisha Hoffman Born
• Down At The Cross (The Cyber Hymnal)
• Down at the Cross (Hymnary.org)