Scripture Verse

Introduction

Origin of the Hymn

Dr. John Faw­cett was the pas­tor of a small church at Wains­gate, and was called from there to a larg­er church in Lon­don in 1772. He ac­cept­ed the call and preached his fare­well ser­mon.

The wag­ons were load­ed with his books and fur­ni­ture, and all was rea­dy for the de­par­ture, when his pa­rish­ion­ers gath­ered around him, and with tears in their eyes begged of him to stay.

His wife said, Oh John, John, I can­not bear this. Nei­ther can I, ex­claimed the good pas­tor, and we will not go. Un­load the wag­ons and put ev­ery­thing as it was be­fore.

His de­ci­sion was hailed with great joy by his peo­ple, and he wrote the words of this hymn in com­me­mo­ra­tion of the event. This song, and God be with you un­til we meet again, are the most use­ful fare­well hymns in the world.

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[Dwight] Moody used to tell of a Sun­day-school teach­er, to whom he had giv­en a class of girls, who one day came to Mr. Moody’s store much dis­heart­ened. He had suf­fered from hem­or­rhage of the lungs, and his doc­tor had or­dered him to leave Chi­ca­go.

He was sad be­cause he felt that he had not made a true ef­fort to save his class.

At Mr. Moody’s pro­pos­al that they go vis­it each of the class mem­bers, they took a car­riage and at once be­gan the work, the young man in his fee­ble­ness say­ing what he could to each.

At a fare­well meet­ing where they were all gath­ered, they end­ea­vored to sing Blest be the tie that binds, but their hearts were full and their voic­es failed. Ev­ery mem­ber of the class yield­ed her heart to God.

Sankey, pp. 139–40