He Was Not Willing

He was not willing that any should perish; Jesus enthroned in the glory above

Author: Lucy Rider Meyer
Tune: [He was not willing that any should perish] (Meyer)
Published in 46 hymnals

Printable scores: PDF, MusicXML
Audio files: MIDI

Representative Text

1. He was not willing that any should perish;
Jesus enthroned in the glory above,
Saw our poor fallen world, pitied our sorrows,
Poured out His life for us, wonderful love!
Perishing, perishing! Thronging our pathway,
Hearts break with burdens too heavy to bear:
Jesus would save, but there’s no one to tell them,
No one to lift them from sin and despair.

2. He was not willing that any should perish;
Clothed in our flesh with its sorrow and pain,
Came He to seek the lost, comfort the mourner,
Heal the heart broken by sorrow and shame.
Perishing, perishing! Harvest is passing,
Reapers are few and the night draweth near:
Jesus is calling thee, haste to the reaping,
Thou shalt have souls, precious souls for thy hire.

3. Plenty for pleasure, but little for Jesus;
Time for the world with its troubles and toys,
No time for Jesus’ work, feeding the hungry,
Lifting lost souls to eternity’s joys.
Perishing, perishing! Hark, how they call us;
Bring us your Savior, oh, tell us of Him!
We are so weary, so heavily laden,
And with long weeping our eyes have grown dim.

4. He was not willing that any should perish;
Am I His follower, and can I live
Longer at ease with a soul going downward,
Lost for the lack of the help I might give!
Perishing, perishing! Thou wast not willing;
Master, forgive, and inspire us anew;
Banish our worldliness, help us to ever
Live with eternity’s values in view.

Source: The Cyber Hymnal #2687

Author: Lucy Rider Meyer

Lucy Jane Rider Meyer MD USA 1849-1922. Born at New Haven, VT, she became an author, social worker, teacher, and physician. She attended the New Hampton Literary Institution (a college prep school) and the Upham Theological Seminary. She also went to Oberlin College, graduating in 1872 with her degree in literary studies. In 1873 she entered the Women’s Medical College of PA, but withdrew after two years. She intended to become a Methodist medical missionary, but changed her mind after her then-fiance died in 1875. She did not get her medical degree until 1887, when she obtained it from the Women’s Medical College of Chicago. In 1884 she taught Bible at the Dwight L Moody Young Ladies Seminary, Northfield, MA. In 1885 she met a… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: He was not willing that any should perish; Jesus enthroned in the glory above
Title: He Was Not Willing
Author: Lucy Rider Meyer
Language: English
Refrain First Line: Able and willing to save
Copyright: Public Domain

Timeline

Media

The Cyber Hymnal #2687
  • Adobe Acrobat image (PDF)
  • Noteworthy Composer score (NWC)
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Instances

Instances (1 - 3 of 3)

Hymns of the Christian Life #443

Page Scan

Soul-stirring Songs and Hymns (Rev. ed.) #380

TextScoreAudio

The Cyber Hymnal #2687

Include 43 pre-1979 instances
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