Follow me, in me ye live

Representative Text

Follow me, in me ye live,
What ye ask I freely give,
Only heed ye lest ye stray,
Follow me, the Living Way;
Follow me with all your hearts,
I will ward off sorrow's darts;
Learn from Christ your Lord to be
Rich in meek humility.

Yea, Lord, meet it is indeed
We should all thy bidding heed;
Who in fear of this earth's blame,
Counts Thy lowly yoke a shame,
To Thy name, Lord, hath no right,
Is no Christian, in Thy sight.
Ah too well I know that we,
Hear on earth, should follow Thee.

Where is strength, Lord, to fulfil,
Glad at heart, Thy works and will,
Following on where Thou hast trod?
All too weak am I, O God;
If awhile Thy paths I keep,
Soon I pine for rest and sleep;
E'en to love Thee, Lord, aright,
Passeth far my feeble might.

Yet I will not turn from Thee,
Yet my joy in Christ shall be;
Help me, make me strong and bold,
Firm and fast Thy grace to hold;
This world and her lusts I leave,
Only to my Lord I cleave;
All their promises are lies,
But who follows Thee is wise.

Thou hast gone before us, Lord,
Not with anger, strife, or sword,
Not with kingly pomp and pride,
But with mercy at Thy side.
Moved by wondrous love divine
For our life Thou gavest Thine,
And Thy precious outpoured blood,
Won for us the highest good.

Let us follow in such sort,
Christ-like every deed and thought,
That Thy love most true and kind
All our hearts henceforth may bind;
None may look behind him now,
Who to Christ hath pledged his vow;
Jesus leads, no longer stand,
Follow me, is His command.

Draw me up, my God, from hence,
Raise me high o'er earth and sense,
That I lose not Thee from sight,
Nor in life nor death, my Light!
In my soul's most deep recess
Let me cherish holiness,
Not for show or human praise,
But for Thy sake, all my days.

Grant me, Lord, my heart's desire,
So my course to run nor tire,
That my practised soul may prove
What Thy meekness, what Thy love.
Grant me here to trust Thy grace,
There with joy to see Thy face,
This in time my portion be,
That through all eternity!

Source: Lyra Germanica: The Christian Year #77

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Author: Johann Rist

Rist, Johann, son of Kaspar Rist, pastor at Ottensen, near Hamburg, was born at Ottensen, March 8, 1607, and from his birth was dedicated to the ministry. After passing through the Johanneum at Hamburg and the Gymnasium Illustre at Bremen, he matriculated, in his 21st year, at the University of Rinteln, and there, under Josua Stegmann (q. v.), he received an impulse to hymn-writing. On leaving Rinteln he acted as tutor to the sons of a Hamburg merchant, accompanying them to the University of Rostock, where he himself studied Hebrew, Mathematics and also Medicine. During his residence at Rostock the terrors, of the Thirty Years War almost emptied the University, and Rist himself also lay there for weeks ill of the pestilence. After his r… Go to person page >

Translator: Catherine Winkworth

Catherine Winkworth (b. Holborn, London, England, 1827; d. Monnetier, Savoy, France, 1878) is well known for her English translations of German hymns; her translations were polished and yet remained close to the original. Educated initially by her mother, she lived with relatives in Dresden, Germany, in 1845, where she acquired her knowledge of German and interest in German hymnody. After residing near Manchester until 1862, she moved to Clifton, near Bristol. A pioneer in promoting women's rights, Winkworth put much of her energy into the encouragement of higher education for women. She translated a large number of German hymn texts from hymnals owned by a friend, Baron Bunsen. Though often altered, these translations continue to be used i… Go to person page >

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Text Information

Text Information

First Line:	Follow me, in me ye live
German Title:	Folget mir, ruft uns das Leben
Author:	Johann Rist (1644)
Translator:	Catherine Winkworth (1855)
Meter:	7.7.7.7
Language:	English
Copyright:	Public Domain