St. Philip and St. James's Day

Tempted oft to go astray,
Jesus Christ! be Thou my ' Way;'
Mocked with shadowy dreams of youth,
Jesus Christ! be Thou my ' Truth!'
Wearied out with manhood's strife,
Jesus Christ! be Thou my ' Life;'
Such wast Thou to Thy saints of yore,
Unchangeable Thou art, and shalt be evermore.

Thou 'the Way' art, Thou the prize
That beyond the journey lies;
Thou ' the Truth' art, Thou the guide,
Gone before, yet by our side;
‘Everlasting Life' below
It is, truly Thee to know;
Such wast Thou to Thy saints of yore,
Unchangeable Thou art, and shalt be evermore.

Thus with Thee are linked the names
Of St. Philip and St. James;
Thee they found, both night and day,
Precious ' Truth,' and guarded ' Way;'
Thee, in the last martyr- strife,
Thee, O Lord, they found their ' Life;'
Sure, what Thou wast to them of yore,
Unchangeable Thou art, and shalt be evermore.

Would we follow, true and bold,
Steps of holy men of old;
Freely leave the world, to prove
Our, like their, undying love;
And as freely life lay down,
To receive a martyr's crown?
O Saviour of the saints of yore!
Be Thou to us, what Thou to them wast, evermore!