Scripture Verse

Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28

Introduction

Words & Mu­sic: John M. Whyte, in The Joy­ful Sound, ed­it­ed by John R. Swe­ney & Will­iam J. Kirk­pat­rick (Phi­la­del­phia, Penn­syl­van­ia: John J. Hood, 1889), num­ber 27 (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Whyte (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

Oh, why thus stand with re­luc­tant feet
Just on the verge of the rest so sweet?
While God in­vites, and your steps will greet,
Will you come to Je­sus now?

Refrain

Will you come to Je­sus?
Will you come to Je­sus?
Will you come to Je­sus?
Will you come to Je­sus now?

The Spir­it strives, and yet there you stand
In sight of bliss and the glo­ry-land;
Retreat is death in the sink­ing sand,
Will you come to Je­sus now?

Refrain

Your loved ones gone to the oth­er shore
With un­seen hands seem to beck­on o’er;
Their voic­es hushed, yet they still im­plore,
Will you come to Je­sus now?

Refrain

The touch of death is up­on your frame,
The mar­ble slab soon will bear your name;
Lest you should suf­fer eter­nal shame,
Will you come to Je­sus now?

Refrain