Scripture Verse

The wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. Matthew 25:4

Introduction

Words: Sam­uel Peach, in Har­vest Bells No. 1, by Will­iam Penn (Cin­cin­na­ti, Ohio: John Church, 1887).

Music: Will­iam E. Penn (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Peach (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

portrait
William E. Penn (1832–1895)

Lyrics

illustration
Harvest Bells No. 1, 1887

Welcome, band of true toil­ers,
Who by thou­sands are found
On the hun­dreds of rail­ways
And the sta­tions around;
There’s a quest­ion con­cern­ing
Heaven’s call­ing so bright:
Are you hap­py in Je­sus,
Are the sig­nals all right?

Refrain

With a clear shin­ing light,
Is your lamp burn­ing bright?
Have you oil in your ves­sels?
Are the sig­nals all right?

By the red lights of dan­ger,
Have you left the down line?
By the green lights of caution
Have you know­ledge div­ine?
Can you say when on du­ty,
Either day­time or night,
I am hap­py in Je­sus,
And the sig­nals are right?

Refrain

With a love for Christ’s ser­vice,
And your soul well sup­plied,
With in­spir­èd di­rect­ions
Fully test­ed and tried;
With the points set for glo­ry,
With the me­tals all tight,
Are you hap­py in Je­sus,
And the sig­nals all right?

Refrain

And at last when your jour­neys
Up and down shall be done,
And life’s train shall in tri­umph
To the ter­mi­nus come;
Will you sing as you’re near­ing
Heaven’s stores of de­light,
Praise the Lord! Hal­le­lu­jah!
All the sig­nals are right?

With a clear shin­ing light,
Yes, my lamp’s burn­ing bright,
I am hap­py in Je­sus,
With the sig­nals all right.