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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John E. Giles (1805–1875)

Words: John E. Giles, 1830. Orig­in­al­ly, it be­gan, Hast Thou said, ex­alt­ed Je­sus?

Music: Green­ville, from the op­era Le De­vin du Vill­age (The Vill­age Sooth­say­er), by Jean-Jacques Rous­seau, 1752 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tune:

  • Howell Will­iam B. Brad­bu­ry, in The De­vo­tion­al Hymn and Tune Book (Phi­la­del­phia Penn­syl­van­ia: Am­eri­can Bap­tist Pub­li­ca­tion So­ci­ety, 1864), num­ber 21 (🔊 pdf nwc)
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Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712–1778)

Lyrics

Thou hast said, exalt­ed Je­sus,
Take thy cross and fol­low Me;
Shall the word with ter­ror seize us?
Shall we from the bur­den flee?
Lord, I’ll take it, Lord, I’ll take it,
And re­joic­ing, fol­low Thee.

While this li­quid tomb sur­vey­ing,
Emblem of my Sav­ior’s grave,
Shall I shun its brink, be­tray­ing
Feelings wor­thy of a slave?
No, I’ll en­ter, no, I’ll en­ter;
Jesus en­tered Jor­dan’s wave.

Blest the sign which thus re­minds me,
Savior, of Thy love for me;
But more blest the love that binds me
In its death­less bonds to Thee;
Oh, what plea­sure, oh, what plea­sure,
Buried with my Lord to be!

Fellowship with Him pos­ses­sing,
Let me die to earth and sin;
Let me rise t’enjoy the bless­ing
Which the faith­ful soul shall win;
May I ev­er, may I ever
Follow where my Lord has been.