Jesus, and shall it ever be,
A mortal man, ashamed of Thee?
Ashamed of Thee, whom angels praise,
Whose glories shine through endless days?
Ashamed of Jesus! sooner far
Let night disown each radiant star!
‘Tis midnight with my soul, till He,
Bright Morning Star, bid darkness flee.
Ashamed of Jesus! O as soon
Let morning blush to own the sun!
He sheds the beams of light divine
O’er this benighted soul of mine.
Ashamed of Jesus! that dear Friend
On Whom my hopes of Heav’n depend!
No; when I blush, be this my shame,
That I no more revere His Name.
Ashamed of Jesus! yes, I may
When I’ve no guilt to wash away;
No tear to wipe, no good to crave,
No fears to quell, no soul to save.
Ashamed of Jesus! empty pride!
I’ll boast a Savior crucified,
And O may this my portion be,
My Savior not ashamed of me!
About the writer: Joseph Grigg, an English Presbyterian minister, was born in 1720. He began writing hymns when he was only ten years old. He entered the ministry in 1743 and became an assistant pastor at the Silver Street Presbyterian Church, London. He continued here only four years when he married and settled in St. Albans. He retired from the active work of the ministry at this time and began writing. His published works eventually numbered about forty devotional and scholarly volumes. He died in 1768. In 1806 his hymns were collected and published.
Key Verse: If a person is ashamed of me and my message in these adulterous and sinful days, I, the Son of Man, will be ashamed of that person when I return in the glory of my Father with the holy angels. –Mark 8:38