Scripture Verse

I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against Heaven, and before thee. Luke 15:18

Introduction

portrait
James Clarke (1810–1888)

Words: James F. Clarke, Hymn Book for the Church of the Dis­ci­ples 1844.

Music: Pley­el’s Hymn Ig­naz J. Pley­el, 1791 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tune:

  • Oahu Lu­cia G. Mer­rill, in Mur­ray’s Songs for Sun­day Schools and Gos­pel Meet­ings (Bos­ton Mas­sa­chu­setts: White & Smith, 1876), page 69 (🔊 pdf nwc)
portrait
Ignaz J. Pleyel (1757–1831)

Lyrics

Brother, hast thou wan­dered far
From thy Fa­ther’s hap­py home,
With thy­self and God at war?
Turn thee, bro­ther; home­ward come.

Hast thou wast­ed all the pow­ers
God for no­ble us­es gave?
Squandered life’s most gold­en hours?
Turn thee, bro­ther; God can save!

Is a migh­ty fa­mine now
In thy heart and in thy soul?
Discontent up­on thy brow?
Turn thee; God will make thee whole.

He can heal thy bit­ter­est wound,
He thy gent­lest pray­er can hear;
Seek Him, for He may be found;
Call up­on Him; He is near.