Go, labor on; spend, and be spent

Go, labor 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?

Go, labor on! `tis not for naught
thine earthly loss is heavenly gain;
men heed thee, love thee, praise thee not;
the Master praises: what are men?

Go, labor on! enough, while here,
if he shall praise thee, if he deign
the willing heart to mark and cheer:
no toil for him shall be in vain.

Go, labor 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.

Go, labor 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.

Men die in darkness at your side,
without a hope to cheer the tomb;
take up the torch and wave it wide,
the torch that lights time's thickest gloom.

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.

Toil on, and in thy toil rejoice!
for toil comes rest, for exile home;
soon shalt thou hear the Bridegroom's voice,
the midnight peal, "Behold, I come!"

Words: Horatius Bonar, 1843

Music: Maryton, Melcombe, Song 34, Hursley, St. Finian, Langollen

Meter: LM

Website compiled by Steve Benner, 2000-2003.