Written by, Edward Mote (1797-1874), in 1834, On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand, first appeared in newspapers and tracts but Mote’s name did not appear as author. So popular was the hymn, that the subject of who the author could be occupied many a conversation, so to end all the speculation, Mote came forward to claim that he had written the work. Mote explained how and when the verses had been inspired.
“I began to meditate on the gracious experience of the Christian. Soon the chorus, and then the words of the first verse, came to mind.” The following Sunday, coming out of morning worship, he was invited to a friend’s home to encourage his critically ill wife and in that home it was custom to sing a hymn, read the scripture and then pray at family worship time. The ill lady’s husband searched for a hymn in vain, so Mote pulled out what he had recently scribed. The words so inspired the ill lady, that her husband asked if they could have a copy for her. Later that evening as he sat by his fire, Mote was inspired to add further verses and thought that the hymn may be as much help to others if it could get circulated further afield, so out it went, but anonymously.
Mote was raised in a totally irreligious home and his Pub-owning parents sent their son to a school where it was not permitted to teach the Bible! Yet, as a teenager, when he was apprenticed to a cabinet maker, for a reason not known to him at the time, he began to attend church. On hearing well known preacher, John Hyatt, he was provoked to think upon eternity and within two years he came into full salvation. Some years later then, he felt called to preach the Gospel and was shepherd to one flock for 26 years. He loved nothing more than to speak about the blood of Jesus and teach his flock about blessed assurance and security in Christ. “Dressed in His righteousness alone, faultless to stand before the throne!”
“I began to meditate on the gracious experience of the Christian. Soon the chorus, and then the words of the first verse, came to mind.” The following Sunday, coming out of morning worship, he was invited to a friend’s home to encourage his critically ill wife and in that home it was custom to sing a hymn, read the scripture and then pray at family worship time. The ill lady’s husband searched for a hymn in vain, so Mote pulled out what he had recently scribed. The words so inspired the ill lady, that her husband asked if they could have a copy for her. Later that evening as he sat by his fire, Mote was inspired to add further verses and thought that the hymn may be as much help to others if it could get circulated further afield, so out it went, but anonymously.
Mote was raised in a totally irreligious home and his Pub-owning parents sent their son to a school where it was not permitted to teach the Bible! Yet, as a teenager, when he was apprenticed to a cabinet maker, for a reason not known to him at the time, he began to attend church. On hearing well known preacher, John Hyatt, he was provoked to think upon eternity and within two years he came into full salvation. Some years later then, he felt called to preach the Gospel and was shepherd to one flock for 26 years. He loved nothing more than to speak about the blood of Jesus and teach his flock about blessed assurance and security in Christ. “Dressed in His righteousness alone, faultless to stand before the throne!”
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.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
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.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.
3. His oath, His covenant, and blood
Support me in the whelming flood;
When every earthly prop gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.
4. When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh, may I then in Him be found,
Clothed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne!
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.
Than Jesus' blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus' name.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
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.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.
3. His oath, His covenant, and blood
Support me in the whelming flood;
When every earthly prop gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.
4. When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh, may I then in Him be found,
Clothed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne!
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.
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