To love the Lord thy God with all thy being,
Thy neighbor as the Lord commanded thee,
Is drawing near the kingdom of our Father,
Which Jesus said the pure in heart shall see.
This kingdom is within you, said the Master;
'Tis neither here, nor there, nor far away.
By dying, then, we ne'er will pass its portals;
'Tis gained through Christlike living day by day.
In doing works Christ Jesus did before us,
And walking in the pathway he hath trod,
We win the blest, Well done, thou faithful servant,
And gain the comfort of the staff and rod.
God's staff supports us in our right endeavors;
His rod will keep us in the holy way.
His voice will cheer us ever onward, upward,
Till comes the dawn of His eternal day.
