Whosoever will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
Mark 8:34
Words: Nannie L. Barnum, in The Century Hymnal, edited by H. Augustine Smith (New York: Century Company, 1921), number 130.
Music: Tracy George L. Tracy, 1920 (🔊 pdf nwc).
If you know where to get a good photo of Barnum or Tracy (head & shoulders, at least 200×300 pixels),
To crucify each selfish need,
And on the heavenly manna feed,
Is my desire;
A season spent at Jesus’ feet,
For such a life to be more meet
I do aspire.
Each idol cast from out my mind,
A priceless jewel to enshrine
Within my heart;
Nor let its radiance be confined
But shine to lighten human kind
From out the dark.
Not forty days, but year by year,
Until my Savior doth appear
In garments white.
To waken that glad Easter morn,
And to the courts of Heaven be borne
New and contrite.