Lord! ‘twas Thy voice of love first bade me “Come!”
And find redemption at Thy wondrous Cross:
A weary, wandering child, Thou broughtest me home -
Rescued from sin, from sorrow, and from loss!
And now once more that word of love I hear,
Sounding across life’s dark and stormy sea;
O, may the deep attraction of Thy voice
Draw me from all around, to follow Thee!
From earthly scenes, and ties, however sweet,
From all that here would backward hold my heart,
I would go forth, with footsteps firm and fleet,
To be with Thee, dear Lord! where’er Thou art.
And as again I hear that wondrous “Come!”
The vague, dark tumult of life’s inner sea―
The restless waves of thought which wildly run―
Grow calm; as, risen Lord! I walk with Thee!
For since I’ve seen Thee seated up above,
At God’s right hand, in yonder glorious sphere,
The light, which led me to that place of love,
Revealed the wreck of everything down here.
And now, whilst gazing on Thine unveiled face,
My heart would find with Thee its quiet home;
And o’er the waves, upheld by Thy free grace,
I’d walk with Thee, responsive to Thy “Come!”
The long night-watch of life will soon be o’er:
‘Tis sweet to pass it, blessed Lord, with Thee,
Our hands in Thine, until on yonder shore,
Fair Land of Peace! we rest eternally!