Music by George C. Stebbins, 1890 (1846-1945)

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.

Take time to be holy,

The world rushes on;

Spend much time in secret

With Jesus alone.

By looking to Jesus,

Like Him thou shalt be;

Thy friends in thy conduct

His likeness shall see.

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.

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.

Longstaff was treasurer of the Bethes­da Free Chapel in Sunderland. He was friends with Salvation Army founder William Booth, and evangelists Dwight Moody and Ira Sankey. A number of his hymns were apparently published in the Salvation Army’s War Cry in the 1880’s.