Just for His Sake

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I have toiled all night and for many a day

Author: Sarepta M. I. Henry
Tune: [I have toiled all night and for many a day]
Published in 11 hymnals

Audio files: MIDI

Representative Text

1 I have toiled all night and for many a day;
For they say there are fish in the sea,
And yet I have caught nothing, my labor is vain,
And there cometh no increase to me.
I will wash out my net, I will hang it away,
And my fishing boat draw to the shore;
It is useless to me; I will cast out my net
In these barren sea waters no more.

2 So he bent and labored at washing his net,
While the Savior walk'd down to the sea,
Straight way entering into the ship Jesus said,
"Thrust the boat out a little for me,
Launch it out in the deep, quickly let down the net,"
But the fisherman answer'd "In vain
We have labored all night, Yet at Thy bidding, Lord,
I will cast in my net once again."

3 And just how 'twas done only Jesus can tell,
But the net was so full that it brake;
For they launch'd out their ship and they cast in their net,
As he bade them to do for His sake.
Therefore tho' you have labored in vain until now,
Lo, the Savior is saying to thee,
"Launch out into the deep, Quickly cast in the net;
There are fish in the depth of the sea."

Source: Revival Praises #75

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Author: Sarepta M. I. Henry

HENRY, Mrs. Sarepta M. I., evangelist, temperance reformer, poet and author, born in Albion, Pa., 4th November, 1839. her father Rev. H. Nelson Irish, was a Methodist clergyman of the old style. He was preaching in Albion at the time of the daughter's birth. In 1841 he was sent to Illinois as a missionary, where he did heroic pioneer work and where he ended his days. In 1859 Miss Irish entered the Rock River Seminary, in Mt. Morris, Ill., when she had for her pastor Rev. J. H. Vincent, then just coming into his life work. Recognition had been given to her literary ability, and during her school days she won many honors in composition. On 7th March, 1861, Miss Irish became the wife of James W. Henry, of East Homer, N. Y. The Civil War broke… Go to person page >

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