John 19: The coward Peter had denied

The coward Peter had denied,
The judge through fear had crucified,
His followers base themselves betook
To flight, and all their Lord forsook:
The weaker sex, the Marys three,
Patterns of faith and constancy,
By Jesus on the cross remain,
And thence their strength and courage gain.

Arm'd with the power of Jesu's grace,
Surmounting nature's tenderness
The sharp heart-piercing sword they feel,
The horrors of that spectacle;
Unmoved by shame or danger near,
His only dying cries they hear,
Regardless of the' outrageous crowd
They only mark His streaming blood.

The martyrs thus their strength received,
While with the Man of griefs they grieved,
And dared the fiery test abide,
Partakers with the Crucified:
Thus all the followers of the Lamb
Endure the pain, despise the shame,
And power to suffer in His cause
Find at the foot of Jesus' cross.