Words: , 1869.

Music: , 1871.

I sang [this song] for the first time in the home of Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Cor­nell at Long Branch. The serv­ants ga­thered from all parts of the house while I was sing­ing, and looked into the par­lor where I was seat­ed. When I was through one of them said: “That is the fin­est hymn I have heard for a long time; won’t you please sing it over again?” I felt that this was a test case, and that if the hymn had such pow­er over those serv­ants it would be use­ful in reach­ing other people as well; so I pub­lished it in “Gos­pel Hymns” in 1875, where it be­came one of the best work-songs for our meet­ings that we had.

To the work! To the work! We are servants of God;
Let us follow the path that our Master has trod;
With the balm of His counsel our strength to renew,
Let us do with our might what our hands find to do.

Refrain

Toiling on, toiling on,
Toiling on, toiling on,
Let us hope and trust,
Let us watch and pray,
And labor till the Master comes.

To the work! To the work! Let the hungry be fed;
To the fountain of life let the weary be led;
In the cross and its banner our glory shall be,
While we herald the tidings, “Salvation is free!”

Refrain

To the work! To the work! There is labor for all;
For the kingdom of darkness and error shall fall;
And the love of our Father exalted shall be,
In the loud swelling chorus, “Salvation is free!”

Refrain

To the work! To the work! In the strength of the Lord,
And a robe and a crown shall our labor reward,
When the home of the faithful our dwelling shall be,
And we shout with the ransomed, “Salvation is free!”

Refrain