Classic Poem

Never further than Thy Cross!
Never higher than Thy feet!
Here earth's precious things seem dross;
Here earth's bitter things grow sweet.

Gazing thus, our sin we see;
Learn Thy love while gazing thus!
Sin, which laid the Cross on Thee;
Love, which bore the Cross for us.

Here from pomp and pride retired,
Nothing would we seem or be:
Dust! yet with Thy life inspired;
Nothing! yet beloved of Thee.

Here we learn to serve and give,
And, obedient, self deny;
Here we gather love to live,
Here we gather faith to die.

Symbols of our liberty
And our service here unite;
Captives by Thy Cross set free,
Soldiers of Thy Cross we fight.

Pressing onward as we can,
Still to this our hearts shall tend;—
Where our earliest hopes began,
There our last aspirings end;

Till, amidst the hosts of light,
We, in Thee redeemed, complete,
Through Thy Cross made pure and white,
Cast our crowns before Thy feet.