Words & Music: , 1836; this ver­sion ap­peared in Gos­pel Hymns, Con­sol­id­at­ed, Em­brac­ing Vol­umes No. 1, 2, 3 and 4, With­out Dup­li­cates (Big­low & Main: 1883). See al­so the ver­sion below.


I saw a wayworn traveler, in tattered garments clad,
And struggling up the mountain, it seemed that he was sad;
His back was laden heavy, his strength was almost gone,
Yet he shouted as he journeyed, “Deliverance will come!”

Refrain

Then palms of victory, crowns of glory,
Palms of victory I shall wear.

The summer sun was shining, the sweat was on his brow,
His garments worn and dusty, his step seemed very slow;
But he kept pressing onward, for he was wending home,
Still shouting as he journeyed, “Deliverance will come!”

Refrain

The songsters in the arbor that stood beside the way
Attracted his attention, inviting his delay:
His watchword being “Onward!” he stopped his ears and ran,
Still shouting as he journeyed, “Deliverance will come!”

Refrain

I saw him in the evening; the sun was bending low;
He’d overtopped the mountain, and reached the vale below:
He saw the Golden City—his everlasting home—
And shouted loud, “Hosanna! Deliverance will come!”

Refrain

While gazing on that city, just o’er the narrow flood,
A band of holy angels came from the throne of God;
They bore him on their pinions safe o’er the dashing foam,
And joined him in his triumph: Deliverance had come!

Refrain

I heard the song of triumph they sang upon that shore,
Saying, “Jesus has redeemed us to suffer nevermore!”
Then casting his eyes backward on the race which he had run,
He shouted loud, “Hosanna! Deliverance has come!”

Refrain


This ver­sion ap­peared in The Fin­est of the Wheat, No. 2 (Chi­cago, Il­li­nois: R. R. Mc­Cabe & Co., 1894).

I saw a blood washed pilgrim, a sinner saved by grace,
Upon the King’s highway, with peaceful, shining face;
Temptations sore beset him, but nothing could afright;
He said, “The yoke is easy, the burden, it is light.”

Refrain

Then palms of victory, crowns of glory,
Palms of victory I shall wear.

His helmet was salvation, a simple faith his shield,
And righteousness his breastplate, the spirit’s sword he’d wield.
All fiery darts arrested, and quenched their blazing flight;
He cried “The yoke is easy, the burden, it is light.”

Refrain

I saw him in the furnace; he doubted not, nor feared,
And in the flames beside him, the Son of God appeared;
Though seven times ’twas heated, with all the tempter’s might,
He cried, “The yoke is easy, the burden, it is light.”

Refrain

’Mid storms, and clouds, and trials, in prison, at the stake,
He leaped for joy, rejoicing, ’twas all for Jesus’ sake;
That God should count him worthy, was such supreme delight,
He cried, “The yoke is easy, the burden, is so light.”

Refrain

I saw him overcoming, through all the swelling strife,
Until he crossed the threshold of God’s eternal life;
The crown, the throne, the scepter, the name, the stone so white,
Were his, who found, in Jesus, the yoke and burden light.

Refrain