Psalter Hymnal (Gray) ‎#535

535. Come to the Savior Now

1 Come to the Savior now, he gently calls to you;
in true repentance bow, let him your heart renew.
Christ came that you may know salvation, peace and love,
true joy on earth below, a home in heaven above.

2 Come to the Savior now, all who have wandered far;
renew your solemn vow, for his by right you are;
come like poor, wandering sheep returning to his fold;
his arm will safely keep, his love will ne'er grow cold.

3 Come to the Savior now, he offers all to you,
and on his merits you can plead for life anew.
No vain excuses frame, respond to Christ today!
None who to Jesus came were ever sent away.

4 Come to the Savior, all, whate'er your burdens be;
hear now his loving call, "Cast all your care on me."
Come, and for every grief, in Jesus you will find
a sure and safe relief, a loving friend and kind.

Text Information

• First Line: Come to the Savior now
• Title: Come to the Savior Now
• Author: John M. Wigner (1871, alt.)
• Meter: 66 66 D
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1987
• Scripture:
  1 Peter 5:7
  ;
  1 Peter 5
• Topic: Church and Mission; Missions

Tune Information

• Name: INVITATION
• Composer: Frederick C. Maker (1895)
• Meter: 66 66 D
• Key: E♭ Major

Text Information:

Scripture References:
st. 2 = Isa. 53:6
st. 4 = Matt. 11:28-30, Ps. 55:22, 1 Pet. 5:7

John M. Wigner (b. King's Lynn, Norfolk, England, 1844; d. London, England, 1911) wrote this text in 1871 for use with the young people of the church where his father was a Baptist minister. The hymn was published in his father's Supplement to the Baptist Psalms and Hymns in 1880 (Wigner's father had also compiled the original edition of this hymnal in 1858). Educated at London University, Wigner served in various capacities at his church, especially working with young people. After 1876 Wigner was employed in the Indian Home Office in London.

Like 534, this invitation hymn makes use of biblical phrases and imagery. We are called to come to the Savior in repentance and for renewal. The text makes an urgent, direct appeal (st. 3) to come to Christ for salvation, relief from our burdens, and eternal rest.

Liturgical Use:
As an invitation hymn in evangelistic services, possibly with altar calls or with the Lord's Supper; useful in the service of confession/forgiveness.

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook

Tune Information:

Frederick C. Maker (b. Bristol, Gloucestershire, England, 1844; d. Bristol, 1927) composed INVITATION for this text. Also known as COME TO THE SAVIOR, the tune was published in the Bristol Tune Book (1881), edited by Alfred Stone and others. Well matched to the text, INVITATION begins gently but involves more dramatic melodic gestures in its final half. Sing in parts, perhaps unaccompanied.

Maker received his early musical training as a chorister at Bristol Cathedral. He pursued a career as organist and choirmaster-most of it spent in Methodist and Congregational churches in Bristol. His longest tenure was at Redland Park Congregational Church, where he was organist from 1882-1910. Maker also conducted the Bristol Free Church Choir Association and was a long-time visiting professor of music at Clifton College. He wrote hymn tunes, anthems, and a cantata, Moses in the Bulrushes.

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook