Take time to be holy;
Speak oft with thy Lord.
Abide in Him always,
And feed on His word.
Make friends of God’s children;
Help those who are weak,
Forgetting in nothing
His blessing to seek.
Take time to be holy;
The world rushes on.
Spend much time in secret,
With Jesus alone.
By looking to Jesus,
Like Him thou shalt be;
Thy friends in thy conduct
His likeness shall see.
Take time to be holy;
Be calm in thy soul,
Each thought and each motive
Beneath His control.
Thus led by His Spirit
To fountains of love,
Thou soon shalt be fitted
For service above.
– William D. Longstaff (1874)