1. Once far from God and dead in sin, No light my heart could see; But in God's Word the light I found, Now Christ liveth in me. 2. As rays of light from yonder sun, The flowers of earth set free, So life and light and love came forth From Christ living in me. 3. As lives the flower within the seed, As in the cone the tree, So, praise the God of truth and grace, His Spirit dwelleth in me. 4. With longing all my heart is filled, That like Him I may be, As on the wondrous thought I dwell That Christ liveth in me. Chorus: Christ liveth in me, Christ liveth in me, Oh! what a salvation this, That Christ liveth in me.
Lyrics: Daniel
Webster Whittle
Music: James McGranahan
Tune: CHRIST LIVETH IN ME
Daniel W. Whittle, 1840–1901
The author, Daniel W. Whittle, joined the Illinois Infantry during the Civil War and rose to the rank of major. For the remainder of his life he was known by this title. Following the war he returned to Chicago and became treasurer of the Elgin Watch Company. In 1873, however, he resigned this high position and under D. L. Moody’s influence entered the evangelistic ministry. He was unusually successful as an evangelist as well as the author of a number of favorite gospel hymns, most of which he wrote with the pseudonym “El Nathan.” “Christ Liveth in Me” first appeared in Gospel Hymns #6, which was published in 1891.