O to Be Like Thee!

O to be like Thee! blessed Redeemer,
This is my constant longing and prayer;
Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures,
Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear.

O to be like Thee! full of compassion,
Loving, forgiving, tender and kind,
Helping the helpless, cheering the fainting,
Seeking the wand’ring sinner to find.

O to be like Thee! lowly in spirit,
Holy and harmless, patient and brave,
Meekly enduring cruel reproaches,
Willing to suffer, others to save.

O to be like Thee! Lord, I am coming
Now to receive th’ anointing divine;
All that I am and have I am bringing–
Lord, from this moment all shall be Thine.

O to be like Thee! O to be like Thee,
Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art.
Come in Thy sweetness; come in Thy fullness;
Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.

– Thomas O. Chisholm (1897)