Hebrews 5:8: How backward is our flesh and blood

How backward is our flesh and blood
To learn the lessons of the cross!
Eager to work the works of God,
We shrink at suffering for His cause;
Before we in His death abide,
We fondly hope His life to prove,
And nature yet uncrucified
Would snatch the crown of perfect love.

But Christ, the co-eternal Son,
His Father's harshest will obey'd,
Drank the full cup of grief unknown,
Through pain a perfect Saviour made:
He did the work He came to do,
To us the bright example set:
Yet if He had not suffer'd too,
The' obedience had not been complete.

O might we thus our Head obey,
In active, passive, righteousness
Meekly pursue our heavenly Way,
And all His patient mind express!
Partakers of His shame and pain,
Obedient unto death endure,
And thus His spotless image gain,
And thus declare "' our heaven is sure!"