1 Why have you wandered from Jesus so long,
List’ning, unmoved, to the gospel’s sweet song,
Slighting his mercy, so tender and true,
Wounding the heart that was broken for you?
Refrain:
Why have ye done this? why, oh, why?
Jesus is waiting to hear your reply;
Why will you longer his goodness deny,
Why, oh, why?
2 Why are you building on treacherous sand,
When on the Rock he invites you to stand?
Why in the desert have hungered for bread,
When he is calling, “come now, and be fed?” [Refrain]
3 Why in the bondage of Satan remain,
When Christ is able to break every chain?
Why further stray from the Father’s bright home?
Hasten to meet him, and nevermore roam. [Refrain]
Source: Songs of Love and Praise No. 4 #146
Pseudonym: Lidie H. Edmunds.
Eliza Edmunds Hewitt was born in Philadelphia 28 June 1851. She was educated in the public schools and after graduation from high school became a teacher. However, she developed a spinal malady which cut short her career and made her a shut-in for many years. During her convalescence, she studied English literature. She felt a need to be useful to her church and began writing poems for the primary department. she went on to teach Sunday school, take an active part in the Philadelphia Elementary Union and become Superintendent of the primary department of Calvin Presbyterian Church.
Dianne Shapiro, from "The Singers and Their Songs: sketches of living gospel hymn writers" by Charles Hutchinson Gabriel (… Go to person page >
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