374: GO labour on; spend, and be spent

374: GO labour on; spend, and be spent

by Horatius Bonar (1808-1889)

1 GO labour on; spend, and be spent,
Thy joy to do the Father's will;
It is the way the Master went;
Should not the servant tread it still?

2 Go, labour on; 'tis not for nought;
Thy earthly loss is heavenly gain;
Men heed thee, love thee, praise thee not;
The Master praises --- what are men?

3 Go, labour on; your hands are weak,
Your knees are faint, your soul cast down;
Yet falter not; the prize you seek
Is near --- a kingdom and a crown.

4 Go, labour on while it is day:
The world's dark night is hastening on;
Speed, speed thy work; cast sloth away:
It is not thus that souls are won.

5 Toil on, faint not, keep watch and pray;
Be wise, the erring soul to win;
Go forth into the world's highway,
Compel the wanderer to come in.

6 Toil on, and in thy toil rejoice;
For toil comes rest, for exile home;
Soon shalt thou hear the Bridegroom's voice,
At daybreak cry "Arise and Come!"