Thou say'st: Take up thy cross, (Submission)

Thou say’st, Take up thy cross,
O man, and follow Me;
The night is black, the feet are slack,
Yet we would follow Thee.

But O dear Lord, we cry,
That we Thy face could see!
Thy blessèd face one moment’s space—
Then might we follow Thee!

Dim tracts of time divide
Those golden days from me;
Thy voice comes strange o’er years of change;
How can I follow Thee?

Comes faint and far Thy voice
From vales of Galilee;
Thy vision fades in ancient shades;
How should we follow Thee?

O heavy cross—of faith
In what we cannot see!
As once of yore Thyself restore
And help to follow Thee.

If not as once Thou cam’st
In true humanity,
Come yet as Guest within the breast
That burns to follow Thee.

Within our hearts of hearts
In nearest nearness be:
Set up Thy throne within Thine own;
Go, Lord: We follow Thee.