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Jesus I My Cross Have Taken

Henry Lyte

Verse 1
Jesus, I my cross have taken
All to leave and follow Thee
Destitute, despised, forsaken
Thou from hence my all shall be
Perish every fond ambition
All I've sought or hoped or known
Yet how rich is my condition!
God and heaven are still my own

Verse 2
Let the world despise and leave me
They have left my Savior, too
Human hearts and looks deceive me;
Thou art not, like them, untrue
O while Thou dost smile upon me
God of wisdom, love, and might
Foes may hate and friends disown me
Show Thy face and all is bright

Verse 3
Man may trouble and distress me
Twill but drive me to Thy breast
Life with trials hard may press me;
Heaven will bring me sweeter rest
Oh, 'tis not in grief to harm me
While Thy love is left to me;
Oh, 'twere not in joy to charm me
Were that joy unmixed with Thee

Verse 4
Go, then, earthly fame and treasure
Come disaster, scorn and pain
In Thy service, pain is pleasure
With Thy favor, loss is gain
I have called Thee Abba Father
I have stayed my heart on Thee
Storms may howl, and clouds may gather;
All must work for good to me

Verse 5
Soul, then know thy full salvation
Rise o'er sin and fear and care
Joy to find in every station
Something still to do or bear
Think what Spirit dwells within thee
Think what Father’s smiles are thine
Think that Jesus died to win thee
Child of heaven, canst thou repine

Verse 6
Haste thee on from grace to glory
Armed by faith, and winged by prayer
Heaven’s eternal days before thee
God’s own hand shall guide us there
Soon shall close thy earthly mission
Soon shall pass thy pilgrim days
Hope shall change to glad fruition
Faith to sight, and prayer to praise