
1 Son of the carpenter! receive
This humble work of mine,
Worth to my meanest labor give,
By joining it to thine.
2 Servant of all, to toil for man
Thou wouldst not, Lord, refuse;
Thy majesty did not disdain
To be employed for us.
3 Thy bright example I pursue,
To thee in all things rise;
And all I think or speak or do
Is but one sacrifice.
4 Careless through outward cares I go,
From all distraction free;
My hands are but engaged below,
My heart is still with thee.
5 Oh! when wilt thou, my life, appear?
How gladly would I cry--
'Tis done the work thou gav'st me here,
'Tis finished, Lord! and fly.
Source: The Voice of Praise: a collection of hymns for the use of the Methodist Church #602
First Line: | Son of the carpenter, receive |
Author: | Charles Wesley |
Language: | English |
Copyright: | Public Domain |
Son of the carpenter, receive. C. Wesley. [To be Sung at Work.] Published in Hymns and Poems, 1739, in 5 stanzas of 4 lines, and entitled "To be sung at work." (Poetical Works, 1868-72, volumes i. p. 172.) Two centos from this hymn, and both beginning with stanzas ii., "Servant of all, to toil for man,” are in common use. The first, composed of stanzas ii.-iv. appeared in the Wesleyan Hymn Book 1780, No. 313, and the second, stanzas ii.-iv. and i. in the New Congregational Hymn Book, 1859.
-- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)