Must I Go, and Empty-Handed?

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Must I go, and empty handed

Author: Charles C. Luther (1877)
Tune: [Must I go, and empty-handed] (Stebbins)
Published in 130 hymnals

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Piano/Organ
	The Organist's Library, Vol. 51

Representative Text

1 “Must I go, and empty handed,”
Thus my dear Redeemer meet?
Not one day of service give Him,
Lay no trophy at His feet?

Refrain:
“Must I go, and empty handed?”
Must I meet my Savior so?
Not one soul with which to greet Him:
Must I empty handed go?

2 Not at death I shrink or falter,
For my Savior saves me now;
But to meet Him empty-handed,
Thought of that now clouds my brow. (Refrain)

3 O the years in sinning wasted,
Could I but recall them now,
I would give them to my Savior,
To His will I’d gladly bow. (Refrain)

4 O ye saints, arouse, be earnest,
Up and work while yet ’tis day;
Ere the night of death o’ertake you,
Strive for souls while still you may. (Refrain)

Source: Hymns for the Living Church #478

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Author: Charles C. Luther

(no biographical information available about Charles C. Luther.) Go to person page >

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First Line:	Must I go, and empty handed
Title:	Must I Go, and Empty-Handed?
Author:	Charles C. Luther (1877)
Meter:	8.7.8.7 D
Language:	English
Notes:	Swahili translation: See "Mbele yake Mwokozi wangu"
Copyright:	Public Domain

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Notes

After a month only of Christian life, nearly all of it upon a sick bed, a young man of nearly thirty years lay dying. Suddenly a look of sadness crossed his face, and to the query of a friend he exclaimed: "No, I am not afraid, Jesus saves me now; but oh, must I go, and empty handed?" —Crowning Glory No. 1, 1890, Hymn 138.

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