Invitation

Verse 1

“Almost persuaded” now to believe;
“Almost persuaded” Christ to receive;
Seems now some soul to say,
“Go, Spirit, go thy way;
Some more convenient day
On thee I’ll call.”

Verse 2

“Almost persuaded,” come, come to-day;
“Almost persuaded,” turn not away,
Jesus invites you here,
Angels are ling’ring near,
Pray’rs rise from hearts so dear;
Oh, wand’rer, come!

Verse 3

“Almost persuaded,” harvest is past!
”Almost persuaded,” doom comes at last!
”Almost” cannot avail;
“Almost” is but to fail!
Sad, sad that bitter wail,--
“Almost,” but lost!

Verse 1

“Almost persuaded” now to believe;
“Almost persuaded” Christ to receive;
Seems now some soul to say,
“Go, Spirit, go thy way;
Some more convenient day
On thee I’ll call.”

Verse 2

“Almost persuaded,” come, come to-day;
“Almost persuaded,” turn not away,
Jesus invites you here,
Angels are ling’ring near,
Pray’rs rise from hearts so dear;
Oh, wand’rer, come!

Verse 3

“Almost persuaded,” harvest is past!
”Almost persuaded,” doom comes at last!
”Almost” cannot avail;
“Almost” is but to fail!
Sad, sad that bitter wail,--
“Almost,” but lost!

Verse 1

Art thou weary, art thou languid,
Art thou sore distrest?
”Come to Me,” saith One, “and, coming,
Be at rest.”

Verse 2

Hath He marks to lead me to Him,
If He be my Guide?
”In His feet and hands are wound-prints,
And His side.”

Verse 3

Is there diadem, as Monarch,
That His brow adorns?
”Yea, a crown, in very surety,
But of thorns.”

Verse 4

If I find Him, if I follow,
What His guerdon here?
”Many a sorrow, many a labor,
Many a tear.”

Verse 5

If I still hold closely to Him,
What hath He at last?
”Sorrow vanquished, labor ended,
Jordan passed.”

Verse 6

If I ask Him to receive me,
Will He say me nay?
”Not till earth and not till heaven
Pass away.”

Verse 7

Finding, following, keeping, struggling,
Is He sure to bless?
”Saints, apostles, prophets, martyrs,
Answer, ‘Yes.’”

Verse 1

Art thou weary, art thou languid,
Art thou sore distressed?
”Come to Me,” saith One, “and, coming,
Be at rest.”

Verse 2

Hath He marks to lead me to Him,
If He be my Guide?
”In His feet and hands are wound-prints,
And His side.”

Verse 3

Is there diadem as monarch,
That His brow adorns?
”Yes, a crown in very surety,
But of thorns.”

Verse 4

If I find Him, if I follow,
What my future here?
”Many a labor, many a sorrow,
Many a tear.”

Verse 5

If I still hold closely to Him,
What hath He at last?
”Sorrow vanquished, labor ended,
Jordan past.”

Verse 6

If I ask Him to receive me,
Will He say me nay?
”Not till earth and not till heaven
Pass away.”

Verse 1

Behold a stranger at the door,
He gently knocks, has knocked before;
Has waited long, is waiting still;
You treat no other friend so ill.

Refrain

Oh, let the dear Savior come in,
He’ll cleanse the heart from sin,
Oh, keep him no more out at the door,
But let the dear Savior come in.

Verse 2

Oh, lovely attitude--he stands
With melting heart and loaded hands;
Oh, matchless kindness--and he shows
This matchless kindness to his foes.

Verse 3

But will he prove a friend indeed?
He will--the very friend you need;
The Friend of sinners? Yes, ’tis he.
With garments died on Calvary.

Verse 4

Rise, touched with gratitude divine,
Turn out his enemy and thine;
That soul-destroying monster, sin,
And let the heavenly stranger in.

Verse 5

Admit him, ere his anger burn--
His feet, departed, ne’er return;
Admit him, or the hour’s at hand
You’ll at his door rejected stand.

Verse 1

Behold a stranger at the door,
He gently knocks, has knocked before;
Has waited long, is waiting still;
You treat no other friend so ill.

Refrain

Oh, let the dear Savior come in,
He’ll cleanse the heart from sin,
Oh, keep him no more out at the door,
But let the dear Savior come in.

Verse 2

Oh, lovely attitude--he stands
With melting heart and loaded hands;
Oh, matchless kindness--and he shows
This matchless kindness to his foes.

Verse 3

But will he prove a friend indeed?
He will--the very friend you need;
The Friend of sinners? Yes, ’tis he.
With garments died on Calvary.

Verse 4

Rise, touched with gratitude divine,
Turn out his enemy and thine;
That soul-destroying monster, sin,
And let the heavenly stranger in.

Verse 5

Admit him, ere his anger burn--
His feet, departed, ne’er return;
Admit him, or the hour’s at hand
You’ll at his door rejected stand.

Verse 1

Behold! a Stranger’s at the door;
He gently knocks, has knocked before;
Has waited long, is waiting still:
You treat no other Friend so ill.

Verse 2

But will He prove a Friend indeed?
He will, the very Friend you need;
The Man of Nazareth, ’tis He,
With garments dyed at Calvary.

Verse 3

O lovely attitude! He stands
With melting heart and laden hands;
O matchless kindness! and He shows
This matchless kindness to His foes.

Verse 4

Rise, touched with gratitude Divine,
Turn out His enemy and thine,
That soul-destroying monster, sin,
And let the heavenly Stranger in.

Verse 5

Admit Him ere His anger burn;
His feet, departed, ne’er return:
Admit Him, or the hour’s at hand
When at His door denied you’ll stand.

Verse 1

Come, humble sinner! in whose breast
A thousand thoughts revolve:
Come, with your guilt and fear oppressed,
And make this last resolve:--

Verse 2

“I’ll go to Jesus, though my sin
Like mountains round me close;
I know his courts, I’ll enter in
Whatever may oppose.

Verse 3

“Prostrate I’ll lie before his throne,
And there my guilt confess;
I’ll tell him I’m a wretch undone,
Without his sovereign grace.

Verse 4

“Perhaps he will admit my plea;
Perhaps will hear my prayer;
But, if I perish, I will pray,
And perish only there.

Verse 5

“I can but perish if I go,
I am resolved to try;
For, if I stay away, I know
I must forever die.”