Good Will ‎#118

118. Toil On for Jesus

1 Shadows stretch eastward, the night draweth near,
Soon will its mantle of darkness appear;
Droop over all that is dear to us here,
Droop over all that is dear to us here,
Faces will vanish and voices will cease,
Spirit will struggle with flesh for release;
Nighttime will bring to us woe or release,
Nighttime will bring to us woe or release.

Chorus:
Toil on for Jesus then, toil with thy might,
Naught can be done in the gathering night;
Toil on for Jesus then, toil with thy might,
Naught can be done in the gathering night.

2 Hast thou a sickle, the harvest is white;
Hast thou a friend unsav’d, working while ‘tis light;
Art thou unsav’d thyself, think of the night,
Art thou unsav’d thyself, think of the night;
Naught can be done in the oncoming night,
What thy hand findeth, then do with thy might;
Coin into deeds the hours, beautiful, bright,
Coin into deeds the hours, beautiful, bright. [Chorus]

3 Vainly the eventide loiterer grieves,
Bringing instead of fruit, “Nothing but leaves;”
Glorious the lab’rer who falls midst his sheaves,
Glorious the lab’rer who falls midst his sheaves;
Thrust in the sickle then, reap down the gold,
Bring back the desert lost, safe to the fold;
Nighttime will bring thee, then rapture untold,
Nighttime will bring thee, then rapture untold. [Chorus]

Text Information

• First Line: Shadows stretch eastward, the night draweth near
• Title: Toil On for Jesus
• Author: Rev. Lafayette F. Cole
• Refrain First Line: Toil on for Jesus then, toil with thy might
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1882
• Scripture:
  John 9:4

Tune Information

• Name: [Shadows stretch eastward, the night draweth near]
• Composer: J. M. Stillman