Scripture Verse

Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. James 4:8

Introduction

Words: Ad­am Drese (1620–1701) (Je­su, Rufe Mich). Trans­lat­ed from Ger­man to Eng­lish by Si­me­on C. Chit­ty, 1890. Ap­peared in Of­fic­es of Wor­ship and Hymns (Beth­le­hem, Penn­syl­van­ia: Mo­ra­vi­an Pub­li­ca­tion Of­fice, 1891), num­ber 511.

Music: Gre­gor’s 46th Metre Ad­am Drese, 1698 (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pic­ture of Drese or Chit­ty (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

Jesus, call Thou me, from the world to Thee;
Speed me ev­er, stay me ne­ver;
Jesus, call Thou me.

Not Je­ru­sa­lem—low­ly Beth­le­hem
’Twas that gave us Christ to save us;
Not Je­ru­sa­lem.

Favored Beth­le­hem! hon­ored is that name;
Thence came Je­sus to release us;
Favored Beth­le­hem.

Wondrous Child di­vine! warm this heart of mine;
Keep it burn­ing, for Thee yearn­ing,
Wondrous Child di­vine!

Do not me re­ject; let Thy light re­flect
From me ev­er, bless­èd Sav­ior;
Do not me re­ject.

O that look of love! may I here, above,
Give Thee bless­ing ne­ver ceas­ing,
For that look of love.