FOLLOW ME | AdventAI

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 2, 1872

FOLLOW ME.

The Master's voice was sweet: “I gave my life for thee; Bear thou this cross through pain or loss, Arise, and follow me.”

I clasped it in my hands: “O thou, who diedest for me; The day is bright—my step is light, ’Tis sweet to follow thee.”

Through the long summer day I followed lovingly, ’Twas bliss to hear his voice so near, His glorious face to see.

Down where the lilies pale, Fringed the bright river’s brim, In pastures green his steps were seen, ’Twas sweet to follow him.

Oh, sweet to follow him. “Lord, let us here abide;” The flowers were fair, I lingered there, I laid his cross aside.

I saw his face no more, By that bright river’s brim; Before me lay the desert way, ’Twas hard to follow him.

Yes, hard to follow him Into that dreary land. I was alone—his cross had grown Too heavy for my hand.

I heard his voice afar, Sound through the night air chill; My weary feet refused to meet, His coming o’er the hill.

The Master's voice was sad: “I gave my life for thee; I bore the cross through pain and loss, Thou hast not followed me.

“So fair the lillied bank, So bleak the desert way, The night was dark, I could not mark, Where thy blest footsteps lay.”

“Fairer than lily banks, Softer than grassy lea, The endless rest of those who best Have learned to follow me.

“Canst thou not follow me, All weary as thou art? Hath patient love no power to move Thy slow and faithless heart?

“Canst thou not follow me? These weary feet of mine Have stained red the pathway dread In search for thee and thine.”

O Lord! O love divine! Once more I follow thee; Let me abide so near thy side, That I thy face may see.

I clasp thy pierced hand, O thou, who diedest for me; I’ll bear thy cross through pain or loss So I may cling to thee.”

—Sel.