Scripture Verse

If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. Matthew 16:24

Introduction

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Henry Beecher (1813–1887)

Words: Stanza 1: Tho­mas Shep­herd, Pe­ni­ten­tial Cries, 1693, alt. Stan­za 2: Ap­par­ent­ly from a mis­sion­ary Col­lect­ion pub­lished in Nor­wich, Eng­land, ear­ly 19th Cen­tu­ry. Stan­za 3: The Ob­er­lin So­cial and Sab­bath School Hymn Book, by George Al­len, 1844. Stan­zas 4–5: From the Ply­mouth Col­lect­ion of Hymns and Tunes, by Hen­ry W. Beech­er (New York: AMS. Barnes & Burr, 1855).

Music: Mait­land George N. All­en, The Ob­er­lin So­cial and Sab­bath Hymn Book (Ob­er­lin, Ohio: James M. Fitch, 1844), num­ber 109 (🔊 pdf nwc).

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George Allen (1812–1877)

Lyrics

Must Je­sus bear the cross alone,
And all the world go free?
No, there’s a cross for ev­ery­one,
And there’s a cross for me.

How hap­py are the saints above,
Who once went sor­row­ing here!
But now they taste un­min­gled love,
And joy with­out a tear.

The con­se­crat­ed cross I’ll bear
Till death shall set me free;
And then go home my crown to wear,
For there’s a crown for me.

Upon the crys­tal pave­ment down
At Je­sus’ pierc­èd feet,
Joyful I’ll cast my gold­en crown
And His dear name re­peat.

O pre­cious cross! O glo­ri­ous crown!
O re­sur­rect­ion day!
When Christ the Lord
From Heav’n comes down
And bears my soul away.

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Jesus Bearing the Cross
James Tissot (1836–1902)