Rest for Weary Souls

I

Does the gospel-word proclaim
Rest for those who weary be?
Then my soul put in thy claim,
Sure that promise speaks to thee:
Marks of grace I cannot show,
All polluted is my best;
Yet I weary am, I know,
And the weary long for rest.

II

Burden’d with a load of sin,
Harass’d with tormenting doubt,
Hourly conflicts from within,
Hourly crosses from without:
All my little strength is gone,
Sink I must without supply;
Sure upon the earth is none
Can more weary be than I.

III

In the ark the weary dove
Found a welcome resting-place;
Thus my spirit longs to prove
Rest in Christ, the ark of grace:
Tempest-toss’d I long have been,
And the flood increases fast,
Open, Lord, and take me in
Till the storm be overpast.

IV

Safely lodged within thy breast,
What a wondrous change I find!
Now I know thy promised rest
Can compose a troubled mind.
You that weary are like me;
Hearken to the gospel call,
To the ark for refuge flee,
Jesus will receive you all!