Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28
Words: Fannie J. Newman, in The Royal Fountain No. 3, edited by John Sweney & William J. Kirkpatrick (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: John J. Hood, 1882), page 47. Some hymnals show the lyricist as Merle Murrie, Newman’s pseudonym.
Music: Mediolanum John R. Sweney, 1882 (🔊 pdf nwc).
If you know where to get a good photo of Newman (head & shoulders, at least 200×300 pixels),
Just as a little tired child
Seeks rest upon its mother’s knee,
Worn out with care and striving oft,
Dear Lord, I come to Thee:
Worn out with care and striving oft,
Dear Lord, I come to Thee.
From all my worldly cares, my sins,
How tempted am I oft to flee;
So with the grievous, heavy load,
Dear Lord, I come to Thee:
So with the grievous, heavy load,
Dear Lord, I come to Thee.
For if Thou dost not take away
The sting, the pain, the misery,
Thou yet will help me bear them all,
Dear Lord, I come to Thee:
Thou yet will help me bear them all,
Dear Lord, I come to Thee.
If best for me—Thou knowest best—
I know that Thou wilt hear my plea,
Wilt bear my burdens, give me rest,
Dear Lord, I come to Thee:
Wilt bear my burdens, give me rest,
Dear Lord, I come to Thee.