New English Praise ‎#632

632. Come labour on!

1 Come labour on!
Who dares stand idle, on the harvest-plain
While all around him waves the golden grain?
And to each servant does the Master say,
'Go work to-day!'

2 Come, labour on!
Claim the high calling angels cannot share,
To young and old the gospel-gladness bear:
Redeem the time; its hours too swiftly fly;
The night draws nigh.

3 Come labour on!
Away with gloomy doubts and faithless fear!
No arm so weak but may do service here;
Though feeblest agents may our God fulfil
His righteous will.

4 Come labour on!
No time for rest, till glows the western sky,
Till the long shadows o’er our pathway lie,
And a glad sound comes with the setting sun,
'Servants, Well done!'

Text Information

• First Line: Come labour on!
• Author: Jane Laurie Borthwick, 1813-97
• Meter: 4 10 10 10 4
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 2006
• Topic: 2 before Advent

Tune Information

• Name: ORA LABORA
• Composer: Thomas Tertius Noble, 1867-1953
• Meter: 4 10 10 10 4
• Key: A♭ Major
• Copyright: © The Hon. General Editor, Church Music Society