Scripture Verse

Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in His steps. 1 Peter 2:21

Introduction

Words: Anne Steele, Po­ems on Sub­jects Chief­ly De­vo­tion­al 1760, pag­es 75–76.

Music: St. Cris­pin George J. El­vey, 1862 (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pic­ture of Steele (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

portrait
George J. Elvey (1816–1893)
National Portrait Gallery

button

Lyrics

And is the Gos­pel peace and love?
Such let our con­ver­sa­tion be;
The ser­pent blend­ed with the dove,
Wisdom and meek sim­pli­ci­ty.

Whene’er the an­gry pass­ions rise,
And tempt our thoughts or tongues to strife,
To Je­sus let us lift our eyes,
Bright pat­tern of the Chris­tian life!

O how be­ne­vo­lent and kind!
How mild! how rea­dy to for­give!
Be this the tem­per of our mind,
And these the rules by which we live.

To do His heav’n­ly Fa­ther’s will,
Was His em­ploy­ment and de­light;
Humility and ho­ly zeal
Shone through His life, di­vin­ely bright!

Dispensing good wher­e’er He came,
The la­bors of His life were love;
O, if we love the Sav­ior’s name,
Let His di­vine ex­am­ple move.

But ah, how blind! how weak we are!
How frail! how apt to turn aside!
Lord, we de­pend upon Thy care,
And ask Thy Spi­rit for our guide.

Thy fair ex­am­ple may we trace,
To teach us what we ought to be;
Make us by Thy trans­form­ing grace,
Dear Sav­ior, dai­ly more like Thee.