Invitation, Christ's Call

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

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.”

Verse 1

Come, says Jesus’ sacred voice,
Come, and make my paths your choice;
I will guide you to your home;
Weary pilgrim! hither come.

Verse 2

Thou, who, houseless, sole, forlorn,
Long hast borne the proud world’s scorn,
Long hast roamed this barren waste,
Weary pilgrim! hither haste.

Verse 3

Ye, who, tossed on beds of pain,
Seek for ease, but seek in vain!
Ye, by fiercer anguish torn,
In remorse for guilt who mourn!--

Verse 4

Hither come, for here is found
Balm that flows for every wound,
Peace that ever shall endure,
Rest eternal, sacred, sure.

Verse 1

Come, ye sinners, poor and needy,
Weak and wounded, sick and sore;
Jesus ready stands to save you,
Full of pity, love, and pow’r;
He is able,
He is willing, doubt no more.

Verse 2

Now, ye needy, come and welcome;
God’s free bounty glorify;
True belief and true repentance,
Every grace that brings you nigh,
Without money,
Come to Jesus Christ and buy.

Verse 3

Let not conscience make you linger,
Nor of fitness fondly dream;
All the fitness he requireth
Is to feel your need of him;
This he gives you;
’Tis the Spirit’s glimmering beam.

Verse 4

Come, ye weary, heavy laden,
Bruised and mangled by the fall;
If you tarry till you’re better,
You will never come at all;
Not the righteous,--
Sinners Jesus came to call.

Refrain

Turn to the Lord and seek salvation,
Sound the praise of his dear name:
Glory, honor, and salvation,
Christ, the Lord, is come to reign.

Refrain

I will arise and go to Jesus,
He will embrace me in his arms,
In the arms of my dear Savior,
Oh, there are ten thousand charms!

Verse 1

Come, ye sinners, poor and needy,
Weak and wounded, sick and sore;
Jesus ready stands to save you,
Full of pity, love, and pow’r;
He is able,
He is willing, doubt no more.

Verse 2

Now, ye needy, come and welcome;
God’s free bounty glorify;
True belief and true repentance,
Every grace that brings you nigh,
Without money,
Come to Jesus Christ and buy.

Verse 3

Let not conscience make you linger,
Nor of fitness fondly dream;
All the fitness he requireth
Is to feel your need of him;
This he gives you;
’Tis the Spirit’s glimmering beam.

Verse 4

Come, ye weary, heavy laden,
Bruised and mangled by the fall;
If you tarry till you’re better,
You will never come at all;
Not the righteous,--
Sinners Jesus came to call.

Refrain

Turn to the Lord and seek salvation,
Sound the praise of his dear name:
Glory, honor, and salvation,
Christ, the Lord, is come to reign.

Refrain

I will arise and go to Jesus,
He will embrace me in his arms,
In the arms of my dear Savior,
Oh, there are ten thousand charms!

Verse 1

From the cross uplifted high,
Where the Savior deigns to die,
What melodious sounds we hear,
Bursting on the ravished ear!--
“Love’s redeeming’ work is done--
Come and welcome, sinner, come!

Verse 2

“Sprinkled now with blood the throne--
Why beneath thy burdens groan?
On my pierced body laid,
Justice owns the ransom paid--
Bow the knee, and kiss the Son--
Come and welcome, sinner, come!

Verse 3

“Spread for thee, the festal board--
See with richest bounty stored;
To thy Father’s bosom pressed,
Thou shalt be a child confessed,
Never from his house to roam;
Come and welcome, sinner, come!

Verse 4

“Soon the days of life shall end--
Lo, I come--your Savior, Friend!
Safe your spirit to convey
To the realms of endless day,
Up to my eternal home
Come and welcome, sinner, come!”

Verse 1

Jesus is tenderly calling thee home--
Calling to-day, calling to-day;
Why from the sunshine of love wilt thou roam
Farther and farther away?

Refrain

Calling to-day,
Calling to-day.
Jesus is calling,
Is tenderly calling to-day.

Verse 2

Jesus is calling the weary to rest--
Calling to-day, calling to-day;
Bring him thy burden and thou shalt be blest;
He will not turn thee away.

Verse 3

Jesus is waiting, oh, come to him now--
Waiting to-day, waiting to-day;
Come with thy sins, at his feet lowly bow;
Come, and no longer delay.

Verse 4

Jesus is pleading, oh, list to his voice--
Hear him to-day, hear him to-day;
They who believe on his name shall rejoice;
Quickly arise and away.