Following His Steps

by F.R. Havergal | Category: General | Oct 1969

O Saviour, Thou didst leave Thy glorious home,

Of brightness more than mortal eye could bear,

And joys ineffable, alone to roam

Through earth's dark wilderness in grief and want and care.

Thou didst exchange the praise of seraph voices

For sin-made discords and the wail of pain,

The anthems swelling high where each in Thee rejoices

For fierce revilings in the world where unbelief doth reign.

Yes, Thou didst leave Thy bliss-encircled dwelling,

Of joy and holiness and perfect love,

And camest to this world of sorrow, telling

Each weary one the way to realms of rest above.

Mark we Thy walk along the holy way -

Each step is graven, that all the path may trace

Which leads where Thou art gone - and never may

The powers of darkness one bright step erase!

And Thou hast left a solemn word behind Thee,

Solemn, yet fraught with blessing-would we learn

How we may gain Thy dwelling, and there find Thee?

Thou sayest, 'Follow Me'. Be this our great concern

And oh how blessed thus to mark each hour

The footsteps of our Saviour, and to know

That in them we are treading - then each flower

Of hope seems fairer, and each joy doth yet more brightly glow.

Oh that I always followed Him alone!

I know that I am His, for I have bowed

In peaceful faith before my Saviour's throne,

And gladly there to Him my life, my all, have vowed.

And He hath pardoned me, and washed away

Each stain of guilt, and bade me quickly rise

And follow Him each moment of each day;

And He hath set a crown of life and joy before mine eyes.

How can I turn aside and wound the love

That gave Himself to bleed and die for me!

How can I stray and grieve the holy Dove

Who lights my soul, opening mine eyes to see!

O Saviour, fix my wayward, wandering heart

Upon Thyself, that I may closely cling

To Thy blest side, and never more depart

From Thee, my loved Redeemer, Thee my heart's own King.

And grant me daily grace to follow Thee

Through joy and pleasure, or through grief and sadness,

Until an entrance is vouchsafed to me

In Thy bright home of holiness and gladness.

F.R. Havergal | Oct 1969
General

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