O suffering Friend of human kind

Verse 1

O suffering Friend of human kind! How, as the fatal hour drew near, Came thronging on thy holy mind The images of grief and fear.

Verse 2

Gethsemane’s sad midnight scene, The faithless friends, the exulting foes, The thorny crown, the insult keen, The scourge, the cross, before thee rose.

Verse 3

Did not thy spirit shrink dismayed, As the dark vision o’er it came; And though in sinless strength arrayed, Turn, shuddering, from the death of shame?

Verse 4

Onward, like thee, through scorn and dread, May we our Father’s call obey, Steadfast thy path of duty tread, And rise, through death, to endless day.