Scripture Verse

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me. Revelation 3:20

Introduction

illustration
From Treasures of the Bible
Henry Davenport Northrop, 1894

Words & Mu­sic: Ho­ra­tio R. Pal­mer, in Wel­come Tid­ings, ed­it­ed by Ro­bert Low­ry et al. (New York: Big­low & Main, 1877), num­ber 27 (🔊 pdf nwc).

portrait
Horatio R. Palmer (1834–1907)

Lyrics

Christ is knock­ing at my sad heart;
Shall I let Him in?
Patiently plead­ing with my sad heart;
Oh! shall I let Him in?
Cold and proud is my heart with sin;
Dark and cheer­less is all with­in;
Christ is bid­ding me turn unto Him,
Oh! shall I let Him in?

Shall I send Him the lov­ing word;
Shall I let Him in?
Meekly ac­cept­ing my gra­cious Lord;
Oh! shall I let Him in?
He can in­fi­nite love im­part;
He can par­don this re­bel heart;
Shall I bid Him for­ev­er de­part,
Or shall I let Him in?

Yes, I’ll op­en this heart’s proud door,
Yes, I’ll let him in;
Gladly I’ll wel­come Him ev­er­more;
Oh! yes, I’ll let him in.
Blessèd Sav­ior, abide with me;
Cares and tri­als will light­er be:
I am safe if I’m on­ly with Thee,
Oh! bless­èd Lord, come in.