Scripture Verse

He that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6

Introduction

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Daniel W. Whittle
1840–1901

Words: Da­ni­el W. Whit­tle, in Gos­pel Hymns No. 4, by James Mc­Gra­na­han et al. (New York: Big­low & Main, 1881), num­ber 67.

Music: James Mc­Gra­na­han (🔊 pdf nwc).

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James McGranahan
1840–1907
Wikipedia

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Anecdote

A law­yer from the West sank so low as to be­come a tramp on the streets of New York. He was fif­ty-four years old and a home­less, pen­ni­less wretch.

As he stum­bled by the Flo­rence Mis­sion one night the win­dows were open and he stopped a mo­ment to lis­ten to the sing­ing…It came like the voice of God to him. His ear­ly train­ing had been Chris­tian, and he thought he would go in. He did so, and as he took his seat, they were sing­ing the se­cond verse…He real­ized that this was a truth­ful pic­ture of his own life, and lis­tened to the third verse…

Deeply convicted, he jumped to his feet and said, I will yield, I will seek the Sav­ior’s side. He was con­vert­ed, and at­tend­ed the meet­ings re­gu­lar­ly. He se­cured good em­ploy­ment, wrote to his fa­mi­ly, and be­com­ing re­con­ciled to his wife and child­ren, he re­turned West to the old home, where he lived as an ear­nest Chris­tian.

Sankey, pp. 125–26

Lyrics

Once again the Gospel message
From the Savior you have heard;
Will you heed the invitation?
Will you turn and seek the Lord?

Refrain

Come believing! come believing!
Come to Jesus! look and live!
Come believing! come believing!
Come to Jesus! look and live!

Many summers you have wasted,
Ripened harvests you have seen;
Winter snows by spring have melted,
Yet you linger in your sin.

Refrain

Jesus for your choice is waiting;
Tarry not: at once decide!
While the Spirit now is striving,
Yield, and seek the Savior’s side.

Refrain

Cease of fitness to be thinking;
Do not longer try to feel;
It is trusting, and not feeling,
That will give the Spirit’s seal.

Refrain

Let your will to God be given,
Trust in Christ’s atoning blood;
Look to Jesus now in Heaven,
Rest on His unchanging Word.

Refrain