Scripture Verse

Call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord. Isaiah 58:13

Introduction

Words: Le­on­ard Young, 1877. Ap­peared in Heart and Voice, ed­it­ed by Will­iam F. Sher­win (Cin­cin­na­ti, Ohio: John Church, 1881), page 10.

Music: Port La­va­ca J. S. Boyd, 1881 (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know Boyd’s full name, or where to get a good pho­to of him or Young (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

Welcome the quiet Sab­bath dawn,
Lighting the moun­tain and the lawn,
Telling how Je­sus burst the grave,
Rising in pow­er to save.
Welcome the ring­ing Sab­bath bell,
Sounding along thro’ grove and dell,
Summoning to the house of pray­er;
Come, for the Lord is there.

Refrain

Welcome, sweet day, oft waft­ed by,
Freighted with bless­ings from on high;
Emblem of end­less rest in Hea­ven,
Through the Re­deem­er given.

Welcome the school where child­ren meet,
Sitting around their teach­ers’ feet,
Hearing the sto­ry ever new,
Jesus has died for you.
Welcome the courts of Zi­on, where
Christians con­vene for praise and pray­er;
Welcome the Gos­pel from above,
Given to us in love.

Refrain

Welcome God’s grace with­in my heart,
Never from Je­sus may I part,
Never for­get His love to me,
Coming so rich, so free.
Welcome the crown laid up in store,
After my con­flict shall be o’er,
Welcome a home with Christ above,
Bright with eter­nal love.

Refrain