Sons of Labor, Dear to Jesus

Sons of la­bor

dear to Je­sus

To your homes and work again;

Go with brave hearts back to du­ty

Face the pe­ril

bear the pain.

Be your dwell­ings ne’er so low­ly

Yet re­mem­ber

by your bed

That the Son of God most ho­ly

Had not where to lay His head.

Sons of la­bor

think of Je­sus

As you rest your homes with­in

Think of that sweet babe of Ma­ry

In the sta­ble of the inn.

Think how in the sac­red story

Jesus took a hum­ble grade

And the Lord of life and glo­ry

Worked with Jo­seph at His trade.

Sons of la­bor

pray to Je­sus;

Oh

how Je­sus prayed for you!

In the moon­light

on the mount­ain

Where the shim­mer­ing ol­ives grew.

When you rise up at the dawn­ing

Ere in toil you wend your way

Pray

as He prayed

in the morn­ing

Long be­fore the break of day.

Sons of labor

be like Je­sus

Undefilèd

chaste

and pure;

And

though Sa­tan tempt you sore­ly

By His grace you shall en­dure.

Husband

fa­ther

son and bro­ther

Be ye gen­tle

just and true—

Be ye kind to one an­oth­er

As the Lord is kind to you.

Sons of la­bor

seek for Je­sus

Where He tells you ye shall find

In the child­ren

’mid the mourn­ers

In the sick

poor

lame and blind—

Search the Scrip­tures

He en­treats you

For of Me they tes­ti­fy;

Love His al­tar

where He meets you

Saying

Fear not—It is I.

Sons of la­bor

go to Je­sus

In your sor­row

shame and loss;

He is near­est

you are dear­est

When you brav­ely bear His cross.

Go to Him

who died to save you

And is still the sin­ner’s friend;

And the great love

which for­gave you

Will for­give you to the end.

Sons of la­bor

live for Je­sus

Be your work your wor­ship

too;

In His name

and to His glo­ry

Do what­e’er you find to do;

Till this night of sin and sor­row

Be for ever ov­er­past;

And we see the gold­en mor­row

Home with Je­sus

home at last!