The Solid Rock by Edward Mote

I love hymns, and the stories behind hymns...came across the story behind "The Solid Rock."

I like the images that this song depicts of Christ as the solid Rock and as the Anchor.

(This is a picture of Agios Stefanos: a famous monastery on top of the grey rocks of Meteora, Greece)

http://articles.ochristian.com/article6027.shtml

1. My hope is built on nothing less
   Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
   I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
   But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
   • Refrain:
     On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
     All other ground is sinking sand,
     All other ground is sinking sand.
2. When darkness veils His lovely face,
   I rest on His unchanging grace;
   In every high and stormy gale,
   My anchor holds within the veil.
3. His oath, His covenant, His blood
   Support me in the whelming flood;
   When all around my soul gives way,
   He then is all my hope and stay.
4. When He shall come with trumpet sound,
   Oh, may I then in Him be found;
   Dressed in His righteousness alone,
   Faultless to stand before the throne.

I am struck by the original lyrics of this song and of the two stanzas that are usually omitted:

" The "Solid Rock" text was written in 1834, and Mote titled it, "The Gracious Experience of a Christian." The completed hymn text originally consisted of six stanzas. Expressions from portions of these two omitted verses are interesting to observe:

"My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness;

'Midst all the hell I feel within, on His completed work I lean.

I trust His righteous character, His council, promise, and His power;

His honor and His name's at stake, to save me from the burning lake."