1 “Take up your cross,†the Savior said,
“If you would my disciple be;
take up your cross with willing heart,
and humbly follow after me.â€
2 Take up your cross--let not its weight
fill your weak spirit with alarm;
his strength shall bear your spirit up,
and brace your heart, and nerve your arm.
3 Take up your cross, heed not the shame,
and let your foolish heart be still;
the Lord for you accepted death
upon a cross, on Calvary's hill.
4 Take up your cross, then, in his strength,
and calmly every danger brave:
he guides you to abundant life
and leads to victory o'er the grave.
5 Take up your cross and follow Christ,
nor think till death to lay it down;
for only they who bear the cross
may hope to win the glorious crown.