Scripture Verse

Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. Matthew 22:4

Introduction

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Fanny Crosby (1820–1915)

Words: Fan­ny Cros­by, in The Joy­ful Sound, ed­it­ed by John Swe­ney & Will­iam J. Kirk­pat­rick (Phi­la­del­phia, Penn­syl­van­ia: John J. Hood, 1889), page 43. Some hym­nals give the au­thor as Sal­lie Smith, one of Fan­ny’s pseu­donyms.

Music: John R. Swe­ney (🔊 pdf nwc).

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John R. Sweney (1837–1899)

Lyrics

All is rea­dy, the Mas­ter said,
All is rea­dy, the feast is spread;
Sweet His mes­sage of love to all,
Yet how many will slight the call!

Refrain

Why, why, why will you die?
Ask, and the Sav­ior will free­ly for­give;
Why, why, why will you die?
Only a look, and your soul shall live.

All is rea­dy, He call­eth still;
Come, and wel­come, who­ev­er will;
Bring your bur­dens of doubts and fears,
Bring your sor­row, your cares and tears.

Refrain

Though His mer­cy pro­longs your day,
Time is pre­cious, no more de­lay;
Now He list­ens to hear your pray­er,
Haste the gar­ment of praise to wear.

Refrain

Take the par­don His love be­stows,
Take the wa­ter of life that flows;
Lo, He stand­eth be­side the door:
Hear the Spi­rit your hearts im­plore.

Refrain