1.Take time to be holy, Speak oft with thy Lord; Abide in Him always, And feed on His Word. Make friends of God's children; Help those who are weak; Forgetting in nothing His blessing to seek. 2.Take time to be holy, The world rushes on; Much time spend in secret With Jesus alone; By looking to Jesus, Like Him thou shalt be; Thy friends in thy conduct His likeness shall see. 3.Take time to be holy, Let Him be thy guide, And run not before Him Whatever betide; In joy or in sorrow Still follow the Lord, And, looking to Jesus, Still trust in His Word. 4.Take time to be holy, Be calm in thy soul; Each thought and each motive Beneath His control; Thus led by His spirit To fountains of love, Thou soon shalt be fitted For service above.
Lyrics: William Dunn Longstaff
Music:
George Coles Stebbins
Tune: HOLINESS
Meter: 6.5.6.5.D.
William D. Longstaff, 1822 -1894
William Longstaff, though financially independent (the son of a wealthy English ship owner), was a humble and devout Christian layman and a close friend and supporter of the Moody-Sankey evangelistic team that stirred England with great revival campaigns during the late 19th century. After hearing a sermon on 1 Peter 1:16—“Be ye holy, for I am holy”—with reference to the book of Leviticus from which it was originally taken, young William began to make the achievement of holiness his life’s goal. This is his only known hymn text.