138. He Sat To Watch O'er Customs Paid

1 He sat to watch o'er customs paid,
A man of scorned and hard'ning trade;
Alike the symbol and the tool
Of foreign masters' hated rule.

2 But grace within his heart had stirred;
There needed but the timely word;
It came, true Lord of souls, from Thee,
That royal summons - "Follow Me."

3 Enough, when thou wast passing by,
To hear Thy voice, to meet Thine eye:
He rose, responsive to the call
And left his task, his gains, his all.

4 O wise exchange! with these to part,
And lay up treasures in the heart;
With twofold crown of light to shine
Amid thy servant's foremost line.

Come, Saviour, as in days of old;
Pass where the world has strongest hold,
And faithless care and selfish greed
Are thorns that choke the holy seed.

Who keep Thy gifts, O bid them claim
The steward's, not the owner's name;
Who yield up all for Thy dear sake,
Let them of Matthew's wealth partake.

Text Information
First Line: He sat to watch o'er customs paid
Title: He Sat To Watch O'er Customs Paid
Author: William Bright, 1824-1901
Language: English
Publication Date: 1970
Topic: Praise and Testimony
Tune Information
Name: WINCHESTER NEW
Key: B♭ Major
Source: Chorale in the Musikalisches Handbuch, Hamburg (1690) (adapted from)



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