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  1. Robert Bjorklund
    22 November 2015 @ 5:13 pm

    I noted in one of Charles Spurgeon’s writings that he substitutes “church” for world. Has anyone else seen this, and if so, where?

    • rcottrill
      23 November 2015 @ 8:10 am

      I know of no reference by Spurgeon to this hymn, and Our Own Hymn Book, that he published for use at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, does not contain the song among its over 1,000 selections.

      I did a check of several dozen hymn books, going back 150 years or so. Most have the opening couplet as it is now, with three exceptions. In 1859, one book has, “Shall Simon bear the cross alone, / And all the world go free.” A book from 1861 has, “And all His saints go free” for the second line. And a book from 1891 has, “And all mankind go free.”

      If the original was, “Must Simon bear Thy cross alone, as discussed in my original article, it does work as a metaphor for identification with Christ, except that we do not bear Jesus’ cross, only our own. As to the amended, “Must Jesus bear the cross alone,” as we know from Scripture, the Lord did not bear His cross. Simon did–and not voluntarily.

      As to the second line, whoever it was that suggested “church” be substituted for “world,” did not, in my view, particularly strengthen the lyric. It is not the church that is told to bear its cross; it’s individuals. The use of the word “saints” in one version is closer perhaps.

      But the word “world” is fine. I think it’s an intentional hyperbole. It’s similar, in a sense, to the words of the Lord Jesus, “What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” (Mk. 8:36). No one is able to gain the whole world and all its riches. The extreme phrase is used to emphasize the value of one’s eternal soul.

      Is all of this being a trifle picky? Possibly. But I do think it’s important to pay attention to what we’re singing in the house of God. Hymn-sing must be more than a mindless ritual. We should be teaching one another, and praising the Lord by it (Col. 3:16). This is a hymn about sacrifice and reward. Its spirit is right, even though the truth is not expressed in the best way in the opening lines.