Hymnal: A Selection of Christian Hymns
Date: 1818
Compiler: Rice Haggard
Publisher/Printer: John Norvell
First Line: Come all ye that labor with sin's heavy weight
Topic: <no topic given>
Writer: <no first name given> <no last name given>
Composer:
Tune:
Hymn Number: 361
Page Number: 360, click to see hymnal pages
LyicsCome all ye that labor with sin's heavy weight,
I pray give attention to what I relate;
Of all wretched sinners I know I am chief,
Yet Jesus my Saviour has granted relief.
When first I received the heavenly dove
I thought I should always abide in his love;
The fountain of mercy was boundless and free,
Just suiting the case of a sinner like me.
The plan of salvation was all my delight,
My vessel ran over by day and by night,
I thought the whole world might his fulness receive,
And wonder'd why sinners refused to believe.
The free love of Christ was my joy and my song,
'Till some did persuade my, my views were all wrong;
Such strong consolation they deemed a bad mark,
That christians were safest when most in the dark.
And more than all this, that the doctrine of grace
Did only extend to a part of our race;
the few chosen favorites, for whom Jesus died,
Must grope in thick darkness, to humble their pride.
A Sinner, they said, had no right to believe,
Till some special gift he from heaven receive,
And when he received it, to doubt and repine,
Were needful to prove that the gift was divine.
Can this be religion, I thought with a sigh,
But surely the Levites know better than I;
Then founded my faith on the wisdom of man,
And soon was induc'd to embrace the whole plan.
Beneath a new banner I soon did appear,
And foolishly try'd to get others to fear;
Although living christians had once been my choice,
I now was unhappy to hear them rejoice.
The spirit was grieved and soon did withdraw --
I let go the gospel and turned to the law;
The spirit of bondage soon brought me to doubt,
And under this bushel my candle went out.
My former task-master resumed his throne,
And under his pressure I often did groan,
My sins which had once, by the gospel been slain,
Were brought by the law into action again.
Against my corruptions I daily did strive,
But no peace of conscience I thence could derive;
I labor'd in pain with my burden of grief,
In hopes that kind death would soon give me relief.
The sound of a going at length I did hear,
And soon was convinced the Bridegroom was near;
His presence awoke me, but O how distress'd!
To find that his love had forsaken my breast.
While others around me his presence did feel,
I stood like the son that came out of the field,
The servants in raptures were lifting their voice,
I wanted a kid with my friends to rejoice.
While sinners were pressing in crouds to come in,
I groaned with the weight of my indwelling sin,
I felt that my soul had gone farther astray,
Than sinners who never had heard of the way.
I found that my legal endeavors where vain,
No service of mine could his favor obtain,
And since I had wilfully chosen to doubt,
He justly had suffered my lamp to go out.
I solemnly promised if grace would return,
I never would quench it, but still let it burn;
My soul should forever resign to his will,
And follow with pleasure his word to fulfill.
This humble submission that Jesus should reign,
Soon opened the windows of Heaven again;
And though for his sake I be counted a fool,
I know that my heart has been made like pool.
My own privat interest I cast at his feet,
And in his salvation I know I'm complete;
Since grace upon grace I so freely receive,
I'll praise him, I'll praise him as long as I live.
I now live dependent on Jesus my head,
And out of his fulness I daily am fed,
His faithfulness binds me on him to believe;
And give him the glory of all I receive.
And now you have heard the contents of my song,
Can such a dependence on Jesus be wrong?
If scripture does plainly affirm it is right,
Lord grant you may instantly come to the light.
At once be persuaded to give up your strife,
And come as you are, to the author of life;
Leap into the fountain of infinite love,
And shout like the glorified spirits above.