Scripture Verse

He said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at Thy word I will let down the net. And when they had this done, they enclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net broke. Luke 5:46

Introduction

Words: James B. Mac­kay, in The Fin­est of the Wheat No. 2, by John Swe­ney et al. (Chi­ca­go, Il­li­nois: Ro­bert R. Mc­Cabe, 1894).

Music: John R. Swe­ney (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Mac­kay (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

portrait
John R. Sweney (1837–1899)

Lyrics

Have you toiled all night near the shore in vain?
Push away from the shore, launch out;
Where the flood is deep cast your nets again.
Push away from the shore, launch out;
There a blessing waits for your souls to take,
Haste away from the barren strand;
Toil no more in vain where the surg­es break;
Launch out is your Lord’s com­mand.

Refrain

Launch out, launch out,
Push away from the shore, launch out;
God’s grace flows free, like a migh­ty sea,
And the Mas­ter calls, Launch out.

Have your souls grown faint with the vi­gil long?
Push away from the shore, launch out;
Put your trust in Christ, He will make you strong,
Push away from the shore, launch out;
Be no more content with a mea­ger share
From your Fa­ther’s abun­dant store;
Ask Him largely now, He will hear your pray­er;
And give till you want no more.

Refrain

Jesus bids today every wea­ry soul,
Push away from the shore, launch out;
Hear His loving voice, He will make you whole,
Push away from the shore, launch out;
Leave the shore of sin with its shal­low­ness,
It has nothing of life to give;
Look to Je­sus now, who alone can save;
Launch out on His grace and live.

Refrain