Words & Music: , in the Prize, by (Cin­cin­na­ti, Ohio: John Church & Co., 1870).

“Who­so­ev­er Will may Come,” was writ­ten dur­ing the win­ter of 1869 and ’70, af­ter hear­ing Hen­ry Moor­house, of Eng­land, preach from the text, “God so loved the world that He gave His on­ly be­got­ten son, that who­so­ev­er be­liev­eth in Him should not per­ish but have ev­er­last­ing life,” John iii, 16. Mr. Moor­house preached ev­ery night for a week from this same text, and the new views of the free­ness and full­ness of the in­vi­ta­tion of the Gos­pel to sin­ners that ma­ny Christ­ians in Chi­ca­go [Il­li­nois] at that time re­ceived, are well exp­ressed in Mr. Bliss’ hymn.

“Whosoever heareth,” shout, shout the sound!
Spread the blessèd tidings all the world around;
Spread the joyful news wherever man is found;
“Whosoever will may come.”

Refrain

“Whosoever will, whosoever will,”
Send the proclamation over vale and hill;
’Tis a loving Father, calls the wanderer home:
“Whosoever will, may come.”

Whosoever cometh need not delay,
Now the door is open, enter while you may;
Jesus is the true, the only Living Way;
“Whosoever will may come.”

Refrain

“Whosoever will,” the promise secure,
“Whosoever will,” forever must endure;
“Whosoever will,” ’tis life forevermore:
“Whosoever will may come.”

Refrain