Behold, the Master passeth by


"Behold, the Master passeth by!"
O seest thou not his pleading eye?
With low sad voice he calleth thee:
leave this vain world and follow me.

O soul bowed down with harrowing care,
hast thou no thought for heaven to spare?
From earthly toils lift up thine eye:
behold, the Master passeth by!

One heard him calling long ago,
and straightway left all things below,
counting his earthly gain as loss
for Jesus and his blessèd Cross.

That "Follow me" his faithful ear
seemed every day afresh to hear;
its echoes stirred his spirit still,
and fired his hope, and nerved his will.

God sweetly calls us every day:
why should we then our bliss delay?
He calls to heaven and endless light:
why should we love the dreary night?

Praise, Lord, to thee for Matthew's call,
at which he left his earthly all;
thou, Lord, e'en now art calling me,--
I will leave all, and follow thee.


Words, verses 1-3: William Walsham How, 1871;
verses 4-6, Thomas Ken, 1721

MIDI: Angelus (Hymns Ancient & Modern, 1875,
after Heilige Seelenlust oder Geistliche Hirtenlieder, Breslau, 1657)

Meter: LM

Hymnal, Year Number Tunes Other comments
Hymns Ancient & Modern, 1861-1874      
The Anglican Hymn Book, 1868       
The Sarum Hymnal, 1869      
The Church Hymnal, 1871 (Hall & Whiteley)      
The Church Hymnal, 1874 (Goodrich & Gilbert)      
The Church Hymnal, 1874 (Tucker & Rousseau)      
The Church Hymnal, 1874 (Hutchins)      
Church Hymns with Tunes, 1874 183 Bavaria  
Church Hymnal (Church of Ireland), 1874      
Hymns Ancient & Modern, Standard, 1875-1924 614 Vom Himmel hoch  
A Church of England Hymn Book, 1879 489    
The Universal Hymn Book, 1885      
The Hymnal Companion, 1890      
The Church Hymnal, Revised and Enlarged, 1892 (Darlington) 169 Angelus, San Salvador  
The Church Hymnal, Revised and Enlarged, 1892 (Parker) 169 Angelus  
The Church Hymnal, Revised and Enlarged, 1892 (Hutchins) 169 Angelus, St. Lawrence  
The Church Hymnal, Revised and Enlarged, 1892 (Tucker & Rousseau) 169 Rievaulx  
The Church Hymnal, Revised and Enlarged, 1892 (Helfenstein) 169 Angelus, Rievaulx  
The Church Hymnal, Revised and Enlarged, 1892 (Messiter) 169 St. Lawrence  
The Yattendon Hymnal, 1900
     
Church Hymns, New Edition, 1903 219 Durham  
Hymns Ancient & Modern, New Edition, 1904      
The English Hymnal, 1906      
The Book of Common Praise, 1908 211 Breslau  
The Hymnal 1916      
Church Hymnal for the Christian Year, 1917 666 Hampton  
Church Hymnal (Church of Ireland), 1919 198 Breslau  
Church Hymnal Revised, 1920
(Hutchins)
     
The Oxford Hymn Book, 1925      
Songs of Praise, 1925      
Songs of Praise, Enlarged Edition, 1931      
The Book of Common Praise, 1938 201 Breslau  
The Hymnal 1940      
Hymns Ancient & Modern, Revised, 1950      
The Mirfield Mission Hymn Book, 1955      
Church Hymnal (Church of Ireland), 1960      
Anglican Hymn Book, 1965      
The Hymn Book 1971      
The Australian Hymn Book / With One Voice, 1977      
The Hymnal 1982      
Hymns Ancient & Modern, New Standard, 1983      
The New English Hymnal, 1985      
Hymns for Today's Church, second edition, 1988      
Church Family Worship, 1988      
Hymns Old & New, New Anglican Edition, 1996      
Common Praise (The Anglican Church of Canada), 1998      
Together in Song: The Australian Hymn Book II, 1999      
Sing Glory, 1999      
Complete Mission Praise, 2000      
Common Praise: Hymns Ancient & Modern, 2000      
Hymns Old & New, Complete Anglican Edition, 2000      
Church Hymnal (Church of Ireland), 2000      

Website compiled by Steve Benner, 1999-2004.