In his own raiment clad,

With his blood dyed

Women walk sorrowing

By his side.

[Heavy that cross to him,

Weary the weight;

One who will help him waits

At the gate.

See! they are traveling

On the same road;

Simon is sharing with

Him the load.]

O whither wandering

Bear they that tree.

He who first carries it,

Who is he?

Follow to Calvary;

Tread where he trod,

He who for ever was

Son of God.

[You who would love him stand,

Gaze at his face:

Tarry awhile on your

Earthly race.

As the swift moments fly

Through the blest week,

Read the great story the

Cross will teach.]

Is there no beauty to

You who pass by,

In that lone figure which

Marks that sky?

On the cross lifted

Thy face we scan,

Bearing that cross for us,

Son of man.

Thorns form thy diadem,

Rough wood thy throne;

For us thy blood is shed,

Us alone.

No pillow under thee

To rest thy head;

Only the splintered cross

Is thy bed.

[Nails pierced thy hands and feet,

Thy side the spear;

No voice is nigh to say

Help is near.

Shadows of midnight fall,

Though it is day:

Thy friends and kinsfolk stand

Far away.

Loud is thy bitter cry;

Sunk on thy breast

Hangeth thy bleeding head

Without rest.

Loud scoffs the dying thief,

Who mocks at thee:

Can it, my Savior, be

All for me?

Gazing, afar from thee,

Silent and lone,

Stand those few weepers thou

Callest thine own.

I see thy title, Lord,

Inscribed above;

“Jesus of Nazareth,”

King of Love.]

What, O my Savior,

Here didst thou see,

Which made thee suffer and

Die for me?

[Child of my grief and pain,

Watched by my love;

I came to call thee to

Realms above.

I saw thee wandering

Far off from me:

In love I seek for thee;

Do not flee.

For thee my blood I shed,

For thee alone;

I came to purchase thee,

For mine own.

Weep thou not for my grief,

Child of my love:

Strive to be with me in

Heaven above.]

O I will follow thee,

Star of my soul,

Through the deep shades of life

To the goal.

Yea, let thy cross be borne

Each day by me;

Mind not how heavy, if

But with thee.

Lord, if thou only wilt,

Make us thine own,

Give no companion, save

Thee alone.

Grant through each day of life

To stand by thee;

With thee, when morning breaks

Ever to be.

Amen.