Words: Mrs. James Gibbon Johnson, 1887.
Music: .
If you know the author’s full name, or where to get a photo of her
As these words were sung at one our meetings in Baltimore [Maryland], a man arose and left the building, declaring that he had never heard such twaddle in all his life. When he reached home he tore the hymn out of his hymn-book and threw it into the fire; but he said afterward that the words still rang in his heart and that he could not get rid of them. At last he came to Mr. Moody and said: “I am a vile sinner, and I want you to tell me how I can come to Jesus and be saved.” Moody was enabled to lead him into the light, and the man afterward declared that this was the sweetest hymn in all the book.
O word of words the sweetest,
Oh words, in which there lie
All promise, all fulfillment,
And end of mystery;
Lamenting or rejoicing,
With doubt or terror nigh,
I hear the “Come!” of Jesus,
And to His cross I fly.
Refrain
Come, oh come to Me,
Come, oh come to Me,
Weary, heavy laden,
Come, oh come to Me,
Come, oh come to Me,
Come, oh come to Me,
Weary, heavy laden,
Come, oh come to Me.
O soul! why shouldst thou wander
From such a loving Friend?
Cling closer, closer to Him,
Stay with Him to the end.
Alas! I am so helpless,
So very full of sin,
For I am ever wand’ring,
And coming back again.
Refrain
O, each time draw me nearer,
That soon the “Come” may be
Naught but a gentle whisper,
To one close, close to Thee;
Then, over sea and mountain,
Far from or near my home,
I’ll take Thy hand and follow,
At that sweet whisper “Come!”
Refrain