Horatius Bonar, 1808-89
Based on John 1:16: “Of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace,” and originally published with the title, “The Voice from Galilee.”
The hymn is constructed on three sayings of Jesus: (1) “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest,” Mt. 11:28; (2) “Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give shall never thirst,” John 4:14; (3) “I am the light of the world; he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” John 8:12. In the hymn, these three sayings, blended into a perfect unity, have sounded down the ages by the “Voice from Galilee.”
The hymn, as C. S. Robinson reminds us, employs the personal pronoun to emphasize the intimate relationship between Christ and the individual. “Christ says, ‘Come to me,’ and the Christian says, ‘I come.’ Christ says, ‘I give the living water’; and the listener answers, ‘My thirst was quenched’; Christ says, ‘I am the light’; and the child of God replies, ‘I found in him my Star, my Sun.’”
For comments on Horatius Bonar see [Hymn 129].
MUSIC. VOX DELECTI was composed by J. B. Dykes for this hymn in Hymns Ancient and Modern, Appendix, 1868. The musical difficulties of the tune are more apparent than real. They can be overcome and its possibilities appreciated by careful study and practice. The first half is written in the minor key to carry the quiet, invitational words of Jesus. The second part, the glad acceptance of the invitation, is written in the strongly contrasting major key.
For comments on J. B. Dykes see [Hymn 1].
143. Art thou weary, heavy laden
Stephen the Sabaite, 725-94
Tr. John M. Neale, 1818-66