I looked on the face so marred with tears
That were shed in His agony.
The look in His kind eyes broke my heart,
'Twas full of love for me.
"The crown or the cross" it seemed to say;
"For or against me – choose thou today."

He held out His loving hands to me,
While He pleadingly said, "Obey!
Make me thy choice, for I love thee so,"
And I could not tell Him nay,
Crowned, not crucified – this must it be;
No other way was open to me.

I knelt in tears at the feet of Christ,
In the hush of the twilight dim,
And all that I was, or hoped, or sought,
Surrendered unto Him,
Crowned, not crucified, – my heart shall know
No King but Christ who loveth me so.

( Florence E. Johnson )