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[Once they sought the Cross of shame]

“Is not this the carpenter?”—Mark vi. 3.

Once they sought the Cross of shame
Where He bore the sinner's blame,
And they battled for the sepulchre
Made holy by His name;
But oh to chance upon
Some work that He had done,
The carpenter of Nazareth,
The Father's only Son!
Were it table, trunk, or stool
Fashioned by His hand and tool,
The carpenter of Nazareth
Who Heaven and earth doth rule,
'Twere something just to view
Handiwork He deigned to do;
'Twould shed on all our daily tasks
A glory ever new.
For His by axe and saw
Would be all without a flaw,
Like His patience upon Calvary
To magnify the law;
And the humblest work ye do,
Let it faithful be and true,
And be not ye ashamed of it,
And it will honour you.
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Let the Captain of the Host
His deeds of prowess boast,
And Priest and Prophet claim that they
Should be esteemed the most:
But He took the burden great
Of the worker's toil and sweat,
And the carpenter of Nazareth
Did labour consecrate.
Very dear the Cross of shame
Where He took the sinner's blame,
And the tomb wherein the Saviour lay,
Until the third day came;
Yet He bore the self-same load,
And He went the same high road,
When the carpenter of Nazareth
Made common things for God.
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