Our Lord and Saviour, from Thy birth,
Thy footsteps to the cross we trace,
And all along Thy path on earth
We see Thee take the lowest place.
The world—its bitter hate and scorn—
Was met by Thee with patient grace;
Its taunts in meekest silence borne,
For Thou didst take the lowest place.
Thus didst Thou pour contempt on pride,
The pride of Adam’s fallen race;
For Thou didst all Thy glory hide
To take for man the lowest place.
And for Thy church Thou didst indeed,
O gracious Lord, Thyself abase;
As servant of Thy people’s need
Stoop down to take the lowest place.
That we might learn Thy lowly mind
(So fully hast Thou met our case),
And also have the joy to find
Thy presence in the lowest place.
Yea, from the manger to the cross
We see Thee go with steadfast pace,
Enduring grief, reproach and loss
To suffer in the lowest place.
“A little while,” our Lord, and we
In glory shall behold Thy face;
Teach us till then to take with Thee
Thy place on earth—the lowest place.
Things New and Old