From ‘The Cross’

Song Meaning

The lyrics present a profound meditation on the Christian concept of the Cross, reframing it not just as a singular event but as an omnipresent principle. The speaker interrogates who could possibly negate the Cross, especially after its divine "dew" was received in a sacrament, suggesting an indelible spiritual mark. This initial assertion of the Cross's power quickly expands, questioning who could deny the individual the "liberty / To stretch mine arms, and mine own Cross to be?" This provocative question hints at a personal embrace and embodiment of the Cross's significance. The central tension lies in the perceived ubiquity of the Cross and its transformation from an external symbol to an internalized state. The lyrics illustrate this by pointing to the Cross in the act of swimming, in the "Mast and yard" of a ship tossed by seas, and even in the "small things" of everyday life. This pervasive presence extends to the celestial, where the "Globes frame, and spheres" are described as "Meridians crossing Parallels," suggesting a cosmic geometry inherently marked by intersections. This builds towards the idea that material forms of the Cross offer a kind of "physic," a remedy, but it is the "spiritual" Cross that holds "chief dignity." The most striking aspect of the craft is the persistent redefinition of the Cross through metaphor and analogy, moving from the literal to the abstract and then back to the personal. The lyrics propose that spiritual crosses act as "chemic medicine," capable of curing and preserving, particularly when one is "Still'd, or purg'd by tribulation." When this Cross "ungrudg'd, unto you sticks," the individual becomes "a Crucifix." This is further elaborated through the analogy of a carver, who doesn't create a face but removes what obscures it. Similarly, the Cross, by "tak[ing] what hid Christ in thee," reveals the divine image within, urging the speaker to either embody Christ fully or to acknowledge their own distinct being. This intricate weaving of the material and spiritual, the external and internal, creates a powerful argument for the transformative power of embracing one's personal "Cross." The lyrics suggest that through tribulation and acceptance, the individual can shed what obscures their divine nature, ultimately becoming a vessel for Christ's image or, at least, a clearer reflection of their own true self. The effectiveness lies in this persistent, almost relentless, expansion of the Cross's meaning from a historical event to a fundamental aspect of existence and personal spiritual development.