Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28–30
Words: Joseph Hart, Hymns Composed on Various Subjects 1759, number 100, alt.; refrain anonymous.
Music: Restoration from The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion, by William Walker (New York: Hastings House, 1835) (🔊 pdf nwc).
Alternate Tune:
If you know where to get a good picture of Hart (head & shoulders, at least 200×300 pixels),
Come, ye sinners, poor and needy,
Weak and wounded, sick and sore;
Jesus ready stands to save you,
Full of pity, love and power.
Refrain
I will arise and go to Jesus,
He will embrace me in His arms;
In the arms of my dear Savior,
O there are ten thousand charms.
Come, ye thirsty, come, and welcome,
God’s free bounty glorify;
True belief and true repentance,
Every grace that brings you nigh.
Refrain
Come, ye weary, heavy laden,
Lost and ruined by the fall;
If you tarry till you’re better,
You will never come at all.
Refrain
View Him prostrate in the garden;
On the ground your maker lies.
On the bloody tree behold Him;
Sinner, will this not suffice?
Refrain
Lo! th’incarnate God ascended,
Pleads the merit of His blood:
Venture on Him, venture wholly,
Let no other trust intrude.
Refrain
Let not conscience make you linger,
Not of fitness fondly dream;
All the fitness He requireth
Is to feel your need of Him.
Refrain
Below is Hart’s original version (except 2 repeats instead of 3 in line 5 of each verse). Can be sung to Dismissal William L. Viner, 1845 (🔊 pdf nwc).
Come, ye sinners, poor and wretched,
Weak and wounded, sick and sore,
Jesus ready stands to save you,
Full of pity joined with power.
He is able, He is able;
He is willing: doubt no more.
Ho! ye needy; come, and welcome;
God’s free bounty glorify.
True belief, and true repentance,
Every grace that brings us nigh,
Without money, without money,
Come to Jesus Christ, and buy.
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, this He gives you;
’Tis the Spirit’s rising beam.
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, not the righteous,
Sinners, Jesus came to call.
View Him groveling in the Garden;
Lo! your maker prostrate lies.
On the bloody tree behold Him;
Hear Him cry, before He dies,
It is finished, it is finished.
Sinner, will not this suffice?
Lo! th’incarnate God, ascended,
Heads the merit of His blood.
Venture on Him, venture wholly;
Let not other trust intrude.
None but Jesus, none but Jesus,
Can do helpless sinners good.
Saints and angels joined in concert,
Sing the praises of the Lamb;
While the blissful seats of Heaven
Sweetly echo with His name.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Sinners here may sing the same.