Scripture Verse

Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2

Introduction

Words: J. Will­iam Van Na­mee, in Sab­bath Car­ols (Al­too­na, Penn­syl­van­ia: R. B. Ma­haf­fey, 1881), num­ber 74.

Music: Ful­ton Street C. W. New­ton, 1881 (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know New­ton’s full name, or here to get a good pho­to of him of Van Na­mee (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

Bear ye one an­oth­er’s bur­dens,
As ye strug­gle on thro’ life;
Turn not on your err­ing bro­ther,
Add not to his care and strife;
Let your heart beat kind­ly for him,
For this world with sin is rife.
If his bur­den be so hea­vy
That he stoops be­neath the care,
Help him bear it, of your vi­gor,
Give him as you well can spare.

Wipe away the tears of sor­row
Falling from his wea­ry eyes;
Point him to a joy eter­nal,
In the land be­yond the skies,
Ere his pin­ing heart in ang­uish,
Bitter, hope­less ang­uish, dies.
Sympathy and love can bright­en
Burdens that are hard to bear;
Angels bright will help you nob­ly,
Angels from the land so fair.

Wrap not close your man­tle ’round you—
Mantle dark, of self­ish pride;
In your bo­som, gen­tle im­pulse
Do not strive to crush or hide;
There is much of good and ev­il
In this world so broad and wide.
Much for will­ing hearts of la­bor,
Much of good there is to do;
Then arouse! leave not the bur­den
Bearing hea­vy on the few.