| Alfred H. Miles, ed. The Sacred Poets of the Nineteenth Century. 1907. | | | Hymns.
III. “How shall I follow Him I serve?” | | By Josiah Conder (1789–1855) |
| | | HOW shall I follow Him I serve? | |
| How shall I copy Him I love? | |
| Nor from those blessèd footsteps swerve | |
| Which lead me to His seat above? | |
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| Privations, sorrows, bitter scorn, | 5 |
| The life of toil, the mean abode, | |
| The faithless kiss, the crown of thorn, | |
| Are these the consecrated road? | |
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| ’Twas thus He suffered, though a Son | |
| Foreknowing, choosing, feeling all, | 10 |
| Until the perfect work was done, | |
| And drunk the bitter cup of gall. | |
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| Lord! should my path through suffering lie | |
| Forbid it I should e’er repine. | |
| Still let me turn to Calvary, | 15 |
| Nor heed my griefs, remembering Thine. | |
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| Oh, let me think how Thou didst leave | |
| Untasted every pure delight, | |
| To fast, to faint, to watch, to grieve, | |
| The toilsome day, the homeless night:— | 20 |
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| To faint, to grieve, to die for me! | |
| Thou earnest, not Thyself to please; | |
| And, dear as earthly comforts be, | |
| Shall I not love Thee more than these? | |
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| Yes! I would count them all but loss, | 25 |
| To gain the notice of Thine eye: | |
| Flesh shrinks and trembles at the cross, | |
| But Thou canst give the victory…. | | | | |
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