Scripture Verse

Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution…For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world. 2 Timothy 3:12, 4:10

Introduction

Words: Jes­sie A. Lee, 2015 (pub­lic do­main).

Music: Ver­non (In­galls) from Chris­tian Har­mo­ny, by Jer­e­miah In­galls, 1805. This ver­sion is from A Com­pi­la­tion of Gen­u­ine Church Mu­sic, by Jo­seph Funk, 1835 (🔊 pdf nwc). Note: The score has se­lect­ed stan­zas from the vers­es below.

If you know where to get a good pic­ture of In­galls (head-and-shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els), would you ?

portrait
Jessie A. Lee
1992–

Lyrics

He came to Pharaoh, the king who could kill
Him if he had the mind and the will;
But Moses stood his ground and cried,
Oh let my people go, not die!

Refrain

Alone, alone, I feel alone;
O God, forsake me not Your child!

The people God saved with His might
Did grievous evil in God’s sight.
The friend of God gave them bold reply,
Choose you this day to live or die!

Refrain

To feed the king, his men and beasts,
She secretly prepared a feast;
And Abigail pled while Nabal raged,
For he was a brute and she was a slave.

Refrain

She pled for Nabal’s life, though he
Would have killed his wife long since, though she
Had loved alone and did not fail
Him, she his faithful Abigail.

Refrain

Elijah faithfully preached God’s word
Though he was nearly killed by the sword;
Outran a chariot and hid from the king
Then cried to God, too weary to think.

Refrain

God sent him meat on ravens’ wing,
And God made from a drought, a spring;
Assuring him there were yet more,
Seven thousand who still loved the Lord.

Refrain

See Mary weep beside the tomb,
Of One who gave her life from gloom,
Who healed her and restore purity
Yet now they said so dead was He!

Refrain

Christ walked the wearying miles on foot,
To give the people life and good.
He healed them, loved them and set them free,
Yet alone in death’s garden wailed He:

Refrain

He stood and sobbed while watching them,
Jerusalem! Jerusalem!
I would have gathered you to Me,
Yet you would not; I came for thee!

Refrain

He who had walked that very road,
Now watched the crowd behind him grow;
But not to follow in His steps;
For they loved this life, and gave Him death.

Refrain

They once who listened to Him speak
Like eager children round His feet,
Now watched Him die and wail aloud.
Forsaking Him, they loved the world.

Refrain

He rose and now He is to me
All that I ever need Him to be,
Although the many days I cry,
While staring at the days gone by.

Refrain

While in my heart of hearts I see,
The ones who had been friends to me,
But who would not leave behind their all,
Forsook me and the precious call.

Refrain

When all is gone I look and see
If I can touch the smallest of these,
That they perhaps would become as I
And follow Jesus now or die!

Refrain