373 L. M. Ashamed of Jesus.
Jesus, and shall it ever be, A mortal man ashamed of thee: Ashamed of thee, whom angels praise, Whose glory shines through endless days.
2 Ashamed of Jesus! Sooner far Let evening blush to own a star! He sheds the beams of light divine O’er this benighted soul of mine.
3 Ashamed of Jesus! Just as soon Let morning be ashamed of noon; ’Tis midnight with my soul, till he, Bright Morning Star, bid darkness flee.
4 Ashamed of Jesus! that dear friend, On whom my hopes of heaven depend! No! when I blush, be this my shame, That I no more revere his name.
5 Ashamed of Jesus! Yes, I may, When I’ve no guilt to wash away, No tear to wipe, no good to crave, No fears to quell, no soul to save.
6 Till then—nor is my boasting vain— Till then I’ll boast a Saviour slain! And O! may this my glory be, That Christ is not ashamed of me!
7 His institutions would I prize, Take up my cross, the shame despise— Dare to defend his noble cause, And yield obedience to his laws.
374 L. M. The spirit of obedience.
We love thy name, we love thy laws, And joyfully embrace thy cause; We love thy cross, the shame, the pain, O Lamb of God, for sinners slain.
2 We sink beneath the mystic flood; O, bathe us in thy cleansing blood; We die to sin, and seek a grave, With thee, beneath the yielding wave.
3 And as we rise, with thee to live, O, let the Holy Spirit give The sealing unction from above, The breath of life, the fire of love.
375 L. M. Following.
Jesus my all to heaven has gone, He whom I fix my hopes upon; His path I see, and I’ll pursue The narrow way, till him I view.
2 The way the holy prophets went, The road that leads from banishment, The King’s highway of holiness— I’ll go, for all his paths are peace.
376 L. M. Christ’s example.
Our Saviour bowed beneath the wave, And meekly sought a watery grave; Come see the sacred path he trod, A path well-pleasing to our God.
2 His voice we hear, his footsteps trace, And hither come to seek his face, To do his will, to feel his love, And join our songs with songs above.
3 Hosanna to the Lamb divine! Let endless glories round him shine! High o’er the heavens for ever reign, O Lamb of God! for sinners slain!
377 L. M. The baptism of Jesus.
Come, happy souls, adore the Lamb, Who loved our race ere time began, Who vailed his Godhead in our clay, And in an humble manger lay.
2 To Jordan’s stream the Spirit led, To mark the path his saints should tread; With joy they trace the sacred way, To see the place where Jesus lay.
3 Baptized by John in Jordan’s wave, The Saviour left his watery grave; Heaven owned the deed, approved the way, And blessed the place where Jesus lay.
4 Come, all who love his precious name; Come tread his steps, and learn of him; Happy beyond expression they Who find the place where Jesus lay.
378 L. M. A baptismal hymn.
The great Redeemer we adore, Who came the lost to seek and save— Went humbly down from Jordan’s shore To find a tomb beneath its wave!
2 With thee into thy watery tomb, Lord, ’tis our glory to descend; ’Tis wondrous grace that gives us room To share the grave of such a friend.
3 Yet, as the yielding waves give way To let us see the light again, So, on the resurrection day, The bands of death proved weak and vain.
4 Thus, when thou shalt again appear, The gates of death shall open wide: Our dust thy mighty voice shall hear, And rise and triumph at thy side.
379 L. M. If any man serve me, etc. John 12:26.
See how the willing converts trace The path their great Redeemer trod: And follow through his liquid grave The meek, the lowly Son of God!
2 Here they renounce their former deeds, And to a heavenly life aspire, Their rags for glorious robes exchanged, They shine in clean and bright attire.
3 O sacred rite, by thee the name Of Jesus we to own begin; This is our resurrection pledge, Pledge of the pardon of our sin.
4 Glory to God on high be given, Who shows his grace to sinful men; Let saints on earth, and hosts in heaven, In concert join their loud Amen.
380 C. M. Hinder me not. Gen. 24:56.
In all my Lord’s appointed ways, My journey I’ll pursue; Hinder me not, you much-loved saints, For I must go with you.
2 Through floods and flames, if Jesus lead, I’ll follow where he goes; Hinder me not, shall be my cry, Though earth and hell oppose.
3 Through trials and through sufferings too, I’ll go at his command; Hinder me not, for I am bound To my Immanuel’s land.