Jesus, I my cross have taken
Lo! we have left all, and followed Thee
JESUS, I my cross have taken, ` All to leave, and follow Thee; ` Destitute, despised, forsaken,` Thou, from hence, ` my all shalt be: ` Perish every fond ambition,` All I've sought, or hoped, or known; ` Yet how rich is my condition, ` God and heaven are still my own.`` 2 Man may trouble and distress me, ` 'Twill but drive me to Thy breast; ` Life with trials hard may press me, ` Heaven will bring me sweeter rest: ` O 'tis not in grief to harm me ` While Thy love is left to me ;` O 'twere not in joy to charm me, ` Were that joy unmixed with Thee.` 3 Take, my soul, thy full salvation,` Rise o'er sin and fear and care; ` Joy to find in every station` Something still to do or bear; ` Think what Spirit dwells within thee,` What a Father's smile is thine, ` What a Saviour died to win thee:` Child of heaven, shouldst thou repine ?`` 4 Haste, then, on from grace to glory,` Armed by faith, and winged by prayer; ` Heaven's eternal day's before thee,` God's own hand shall guide thee there. ` Soon shall close thy earthly mission ;` Swift shall pass thy pilgrim days; ` Hope soon change to glad fruition,` Faith to sight, and prayer to praise.``
This hymn was printed as early as 1824, in six verses; but it was many years before even the name of the author was known. He was the Rev. Henry Francis Lyte, curate of an English parish made up mostly of fishermen and sailors, and himself a victim of consumption. But now every one knows and honors his name, for he wrote not only this beautiful hymn of consecration, but many others, and, best of all, " Abide with me: fast falls the eventide," (see under No. 9). [NOTE.—Verse 1, line 1. My cross have taken. See St. Matthew zvi, 34.]