Introduction
1812–1884
Words: William C. Dix, in The People’s Hymnal, 1867.
Music: Bentley John P. Hullah, 1867 (🔊 pdf nwc).
Alternate Tunes:
If you know where to get a better photo of Dix,
1837–1898
Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28
Words: William C. Dix, in The People’s Hymnal, 1867.
Music: Bentley John P. Hullah, 1867 (🔊 pdf nwc).
Alternate Tunes:
If you know where to get a better photo of Dix,
I was ill and depressed at the time, and it was almost to idle away the hours that I wrote the hymn. I had been ill for many weeks and felt weary and faint, and the hymn really expresses the languidness of body from which I was suffering at the time. Soon after its composition I recovered, and I always look back to that hymn as the turning point in my illness.
Nutter, p. 159
Come unto Me, ye weary,
And I will give you rest.
O blessèd voice of Jesus,
Which comes to hearts oppressed!
It tells of benediction,
Of pardon, grace and peace,
Of joy that hath no ending,
Of love which cannot cease.
Come unto Me, dear children,
And I will give you light.
O loving voice of Jesus,
Which comes to cheer the night!
Our hearts are filled with sadness,
And we had lost our way;
But He hath brought us gladness
And songs at break of day.
Come unto Me, ye fainting,
And I will give you life.
O cheering voice of Jesus,
Which comes to aid our strife!
The foe is stern and eager,
The fight is fierce and long;
But Thou hast made us mighty
And stronger than the strong.
And whosoever cometh
I will not cast him out.
O welcome voice of Jesus,
Which drives away our doubt,
Which calls us, very sinners,
Unworthy though we be
Of love so free and boundless,
To come, dear Lord, to Thee.