Take up your cross

1.
"Take up your cross," the Savior said,
"if you would my disciple be.  
Take up your cross, with willing heart,
and humbly follow after me."

2.
Take up your cross, let not its weight
fill your weak soul with vain alarm.
His strength shall bear your spirit up,
and brace your heart and nerve your arm.

3.
Take up your cross, nor heed the shame,
and let your foolish pride be still.
The Lord for you accepted death
upon a cross on Calvary's hill.

4.
Take up your cross then, in his strength,
and calmly sin's temptations brave.  
It guides you to a better home,
and points to glory over the grave.

5.
Take up your cross, and follow on,
nor think till death to lay it down,
for only they who bear the cross
may hope to wear the glorious crown.

#536 in Hymnal: A Worship Book

Words:  Charles W. Everest, Visions of Death and Other Poems, 1833, alt.
   Tune:  American folk melody, United States Sacred Harmony, 1799
                    Harmonization copyright © 1989 The Hymnal Project


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