Come unto Me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28
Words: Daniel W. Whittle, in Gospel Hymns No. 4, by Ira D. Sankey et al. (New York: Biglow & Main, 1881).
Music: James McGranahan (🔊 pdf nwc).
On a cold night in the fall of 1885, a scantily clad man wandered into Bleecker Street,writes a New York evangelist under whose personal observation the incident came.“He was footsore and weary with much wandering, worn out for want of sleep, and faint from lack of food. The long, cold night was before him, and he knew he must walk the street until morning. He stepped into a doorway for a little rest. As he sat there he fell to pondering.
“He was solitary and sad-hearted. Drink had wrought fearful havoc with him, and had left him a homeless, friendless man. Home and loved ones, friends, money and position had all been sacrificed to this appetite.
“He felt that he was lost, and that no effort could save him. As he thus mused his reverie was broken by the sound of song.
“Surprised, he looked up in the direction from which the sound came, and saw across the way an illuminated sign on which were the words, ‘Florence Mission.’
“Glad to get away from the chill and gloom of the street, he went into the mission. As he entered a lady was singing [this hymn.]
“If there was one thing on earth that the man needed it was rest. Rest for the tired, famished body; rest for the tortured heart. ‘These things are not for me,’ he thought, ‘I am too far gone.’
He wandered the cold streets until morning, but never once did the words of this hymn leave him. The refrain constantly rang in his ears,Come unto Me and rest.He visited the mission many nights, and finally gave his heart to God.The evangelist adds that this man has been his assistant for many years, and has won hundreds to Christ.
Sankey, pp. 147–482
Brother, art thou worn and weary,
Tempted, tried, and sore oppressed?
Listen to the word of Jesus,
Come unto Me, and rest!
Refrain
Come unto Me, and rest!
Come unto Me, and rest!
Come, ye weary, heavy laden,
Come unto Me, and rest!
Oh, He knows the dark forebodings
Of the conscience troubled breast,
And to such His word is given,
Come unto Me, and rest!
Refrain
To the Lord bring all your burden,
Put the promise to the test;
Hear Him say, your Burden Bearer,
Come unto Me, and rest!
Refrain
If in sorrow thou art weeping,
Grieving for the loved ones missed,
Surely then to you He whispers,
Come unto Me, and rest!
Refrain
Trust to Him for all thy future,
He will give thee what is best;
Why then fear when He is saying,
Come unto Me, and rest!
Refrain