To all who did receive Him, He gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in His name.
John 1:12
Words: J. L. Louderback, in Goodly Pearls, by John Sweney & John Hood (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: John J. Hood, 1875), number 53.
Music: Temecula John R. Sweney, 1875 (🔊 pdf nwc).
If you know Louderback’s full name, or where to get a good photo of him (head & shoulders, at least 200×300 pixels),
Weary, wand’ring child of grief,
Hear the Savior’s pleading voice;
If you only come to Him,
He will make your heart rejoice.
Refrain
O receive Him, O, believe Him;
Christ in mercy bids you come;
He’ll receive you, He’ll relieve you,
And prepare you for His home.
Tho’ your soul be foul with sin,
He can make you white as snow;
Do you sigh for peace within?
To the living fountain go.
Refrain
Wand’rer, then, retrace thy course,
Trust thy soul to His dear love,
Now the Savior pleads for thee,
In the courts of Heav’n above.
Refrain
When life’s weary race is run,
And thy conflicts all are past,
Heav’n in view, the vict’ry won,
God will crown you His at last.
Refrain
The text was republished in Wreath of Praise, by Asa Hull (New York; Cincinnati, Ohio; & Chicago, Illinois: Daniel W. Knowles, John Church & Henry A. Sumner, 1879), number 34, with modified text, as The Voice of Love, to the tune Spanish Wells by William J. Kirkpatrick (🔊 pdf nwc):
Weary, wand’ring child of grief,
Hear the Savior’s pleading call,
Who for sinners, e’en the chief,
Died to save you from the fall.
Refrain
O believe Him, O receive Him,
Christ in mercy bids you come;
O believe Him, O receive Him—
In thy sins no longer roam.
What tho’ stepped in darkest crime,
Foul, unclean, and stained with sin,
Jesus knows it all the time,
Seeks to make and keep you clean.
Refrain
In thy course, O wand’rer, pause,
Listen to the voice of love—
Christ the Savior pleads thy cause
In the courts of Heav’n above.
Refrain
And when life’s great race is run,
And thy conflicts all are past,
Heav’n in view, thy vict’ry won,
God shall crown you His at last.
Refrain