Christ My Song - 751
Saviour, I come for rest! - The call obeyed
(Jane Laurie Borthwick/Johannes Thomas Rüegg)
The call obeyed.
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11,28)
1. Saviour, I come for rest!
to thy call of love replying,
on thy word of grace relying,
all weary and oppressed;
my sin, and grief, and care,
now to thy feet I bring, to leave, to leave them there. PDF - Midi)
2. I wandered long and far,
in the groves of Folly playing,
on the wastes of Error staring,
no guard or guiding star;
blindly I wandered on
seeking around for rest, and finding, finding none.
3. All became cold and drear, –
the wayside blossoms faded,
dark clouds the sunshine shaded,
no sound of hope or cheer;
darkness on all the past,
and a dark gulf before, which must be reached at last.
4. But then thy voice I heard; –
O how free the invitation!
O how glorious the salvation
revealed in every word!
I heard, as captives hear
the trumpet tones which tell of a deliverer near.
5. I heard, and I obey.
Thy precious blood has bought me,
thy wondrous love has sought me,
and brought me here today, –
here, to thy mercy's throne,
pleading thy power to save, thy merits to atone.
6. My Saviour, thou wilt hear!
Simply thy love believing,
freely thy grace receiving,
why should I doubt or fear?
Unchanged thy words remain,
that not one sinful soul should seek thy grace in vain.
7. Whom can I seek but thee?
Thou hast borne the load so weary,
thou hast trod the path so dreary,
to set the captives free.
No further would I roam,
but close to thee abide, through all my journey home.
8. Home, with thyself at last!
In the clear light of heaven
to see all sin forgiven,
all grief and danger past,
for ever safe and blessed! –
Lord, I believe, I love, I enter into rest!
H.L.L., alias Jane Laurie Borthwick, Thoughtful Hours, 1863, 56-58.
(First “to leave," (1,4) and "finding," (2,4) added by me.)