~Rescue the Perishing

       Fanny Crosby was sixty years old when she visited Chicago’s Bowery Mission for the first time in 1880. She little dreamed that it would provide the inspiration for one of her most popular religious poems. 

       When asked to speak at the close of the service, she rose and said, “There may be a man her who has gone as far as a man can go.  If he is present, I want to shake hands with him.”  A man did come forward, and finally accepted Christ as Saviour.

       Following that initial visit, Fanny Crosby brought many lost souls back into the joy of the Kingdom of God.  On another evening that same year she gave this invitation, “If there is a lad here who has wandered from his mother’s Christian teachings, I would like to pray with him at the altar at the close of the service.” 

       A young man came forward and they prayer together.  He rose from his knees with a new light in his eyes, and said, “No I can meet my mother in heaven for I have found her God.”  Later a friend remarked, “Isn’t it wonderful what these rescue missions are doing?” 

       She could hardly wait to get home to her desk and begin writing.

—Ernest K. Emurian

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Rescue the Perishing[1]

1           Rescue the perishing,

Care for the dying,

Snatch them in pity from sin and the grave;

Weep o’er the erring one,

Lift up the fallen,

Tell them of Jesus the Mighty to save.

Chorus  Rescue the perishing,

Care for the dying;

Jesus is merciful, Jesus will save.

2           Though they are slighting Him

Still He is waiting,

Waiting the penitent child to receive;

Plead with them earnestly,

Plead with them gently:

He will forgive if they truly believe.

3           Down in the human heart,

Crushed by the tempter,

Feelings lie buried that grace can restore;

Touched by a loving hand,

Wakened by kindness,

Chords that were broken will vibrate once more.

4           Rescue the perishing,

Duty demands it;

Strength for thy labor the Lord will provide;

Back to the narrow way

Patiently win them;

Tell the poor wand’rer a Savior has died.