Christ will gather in His own
To the place where He is gone,
Where their heart and treasure lie,
Where our life is hid on high.

Day by day the voice saith, “Come,
Enter thine eternal home”;
Asking not if we can spare
This dear soul it summons there.

Had He asked us, well we know
We should cry, “O spare this blow!”
Yes, with streaming tears should pray,
“Lord, we love him, let him stay.”
[substitute her if appropriate]

But the Lord doth naught amiss,
And, since He hath ordered this,
We have naught to do but still
Rest in silence on His will.

Many a heart no longer here,
Ah! was all too inly dear,
Yet, O Love, ’tis Thou dost call,
Thou wilt be our All in all.

He who would valiant be ’gainst all disaster,
Let him in constancy follow the Master.
There’s no discouragement shall make him once relent
His first avowed intent to be a pilgrim.

Who so beset him round with dismal stories
Do but themselves confound—his strength the more is.
No foes shall stay his might; though he with giants fight,
He will make good his right to be a pilgrim.

Since, Lord, Thou dost defend us with Thy Spirit,
We know we at the end, shall life inherit.
Then fancies flee away! I’ll fear not what men say,
I’ll labor night and day to be a pilgrim.

Who would true valour see,
Let him come hither;
One here will constant be,
Come wind, come weather
There’s no discouragement
Shall make him once relent
His first avowed intent
To be a pilgrim.

Whoso beset him round
With dismal stories
Do but themselves confound;
His strength the more is.
No lion can him fright,
He’ll with a giant fight,
He will have a right
To be a pilgrim.

Hobgoblin nor foul fiend
Can daunt his spirit,
He knows he at the end
Shall life inherit.
Then fancies fly away,
He’ll fear not what men say,
He’ll labor night and day
To be a pilgrim.

How shall I follow Him I serve?
How shall I copy Him I love?
Not from the blessèd footsteps swerve,
Which lead me to His seat above?

Privations, sorrows, bitter scorn,
The life of toil, the mean abode,
The faithless kiss, the crown of thorn,
Are these the consecrated road?

’Twas thus He suffered, though a Son,
Foreknowing, choosing, feeling all,
Until the perfect work was done,
And drunk the bitter cup of gall.

Lord, should my path through suffering lie
Forbid it I should e’er repine;
Still let me turn to Calvary,
Nor heed my griefs, remembering Thine.

O 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.

To faint, to grieve, to die for me!
Thou camest, not Thyself to please;
And, dear as earthly comforts be,
Shall I not love Thee more than these?

Yes, I would count them all but loss,
To gain the notice of Thine eye:
Flesh shrinks and trembles at the cross,
But Thou canst give the victory.

How blessèd, from the bonds of sin
And earthly fetters free,
In singleness of heart and aim,
Thy servant, Lord, to be;
The hardest toil to undertake
With joy at Thy command,
The meanest office to receive
With meekness at Thy hand.

With willing heart and longing eyes
To watch before Thy gate,
Ready to run the weary race,
To bear the heavy weight;
No voice of thunder to expect,
But follow calm and still;
For love can easily divine
The One Belovèd’s will.

Thus may I serve Thee, gracious Lord;
Thus ever Thine alone,
My soul and body given to Thee,
The purchase Thou hast won;
Through evil or through good report
Still keeping by Thy side;
And by my life or by my death
Let Christ be magnified.

How happily the working days
In this dear service fly,
How rapidly the closing hour,
The time of rest, draws nigh,
When all the faithful gather home,
A joyful company;
And ever where the Master is
Shall His blest servants be.

The service of Jesus true pleasure affords,
In Him there is joy without an alloy;
’Tis Heaven to trust Him and rest on His words;
It pays to serve Jesus each day.

Refrain

It pays to serve Jesus, it pays every day,
It pays every step of the way,
Though the pathway to glory may sometimes be drear,
You’ll be happy each step of the way.

It pays to serve Jesus whate’er may betide,
It pays to be true whate’er you may do;
’Tis riches of mercy in Him to abide;
It pays to serve Jesus each day.

Refrain

Though sometimes the shadows may hang o’er the way,
And sorrows may come to beckon us home,
Our precious Redeemer each toil will repay;
It pays to serve Jesus each day.

Refrain

Leaving all to follow Jesus,
Turning from the world away,
Stepping out upon the promise,
All I have is His today.

Refrain

Leaving all to follow Jesus,
Turning from the world away,
Stepping out upon His promise,
All I have is His today.

Naught reserving, on the altar
All I lay, and wait the hour
When the fire from Heaven descending
Shall attest His glorious pow’r.

Refrain

Taking up the cross of Jesus,
Glad for Him to suffer shame,
All my gain I count but losses
For the glory of His Name.

Refrain

Praise His precious Name forever
That His blood hath made me free!
Now my soul shall joy to tell it,
Thro’ the long eternity.

Refrain

Whithersoever Thou goest
Let me Thy footsteps attend;
Jesus, my wonderful Savior,
Loving Redeemer and Friend.

Refrain

There would I be, there would I be,
Thou Who hast labored and sorrowed for me;
Whithersoever Thou goest,
There will I follow Thee.

Over the snow covered mountain,
Out on the wild desert track,
Seeking to rescue the lost ones,
Tenderly calling them back.

Refrain

Telling of hope to the friendless,
Cheering the homes where they dwell;
Going with light and salvation
Into the dark prison cell.

Refrain

Giving relief to the stranger,
Plodding his journey alone;
Sharing the trials of others,
Patiently bearing my own.

Refrain

I have made my choice to follow Christ each day,
I am Thine for service, Lord;
Tho’ I sometimes falter on the thorny way,
I am Thine for service, Lord.

Refrain

Thine for service when the days are drear,
Thine for service when the skies are clear;
Yes, Thine for service thro’ the coming years,
I am Thine for service, Lord.

Let me idle not the precious hours away,
I am Thine for service, Lord;
As Thy voice shall bid me, I will go or stay,
I am Thine for service, Lord.

Refrain

I will never ask Thee “How,” or “Where,” or “Why?”
For I’ve cast my lot with Thee
Till the glory gates shall open by and by,
With a “Welcome Home” for me.

Refrain

I am Thine for service till the last glad hour
Shall have passed on earth from me;
And I wake to service of a greater pow’r,
Thro’ a glad eternity.

Refrain