Sunday hymn: “Take up thy cross, the Saviour said”
“And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” — St Luke 9:23
This morning’s collection hymn at Christ Church, Windsor. Hymn #589 in The Book of Common Praise (1938), official hymn book for the whole of The Church of England in Canada (later Anglican Church of Canada).
Take up thy cross, the Saviour said,
If thou wouldst my disciple be;
Deny thyself, the world forsake,
And humbly follow after me.Take up thy cross; let not its weight
Fill thy weak spirit with alarm;
His strength shall bear thy spirit up,
And brace thy heart, and nerve thine arm.Take up thy cross, nor heed the shame,
Nor let thy foolish pride rebel;
Thy Lord for thee the cross endured,
To save thy soul from death and hell.Take up thy cross then in his strength,
And calmly every danger brave,
‘Twill guide thee to a better home,
And lead to victory o’er the grave.Take up thy cross and follow Christ,
Nor think till death to lay it down;
For only he who bears the cross
May hope to wear the glorious crown.To thee, great Lord, the One in Three,
All praise for evermore ascend:
O grant us in our home to see
The heavenly life that knows no end.
Words: Rev Charles William Everest, 1833
Music: Breslau