WesleyGospel Ministries

I saw a way worn trav’ler
In tatter’d garments clad,
And struggling up the mountain
It seem’d that he was sad;
His back was laden heavy,
His strength was almost gone,
Yet he shouted as he journeyed,
Deliverance will come.

Chorus:
Then palms of victory, crowns of glory
Palms of victory I shall bear.

The summer sun was shining,
The sweat was on his brow,
His garments worn and dusty,
His step seem’d very slow;
But he kept pressing onward,
For he was wending home;
Still shouting as he journeyed,
Deliverance will come. [Chorus]

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. [Chorus]

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! [Chorus]

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! [Chorus]

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! [Chorus]
–John Matthias, “I Saw a Wayworn Traveler”–