1 Came a stranger, sad and weary,
To my humble cot one day,
And he ask'd me for a shelter;
Long and rough had been the way
He had travel'd, he had travel'd
On that sultry summer day.

2 Pain and grief had marr'd his beauty,
And a tear was in his eye,
As he ask'd me for a shelter,
And then waited a reply.
Tears did gather, tears did gather
In mine own, I knew not why.

3 'Neath my humble roof I led him,
As he cross'd the threshold o'er,
'Peace to thee,' he softly whisper'd;
Peace I never knew before
Fill'd my bosm, fill'd my bosom,
As the stranger fill'd my door.

4 "Be my friend and guest forever,"
In a trembling voice I said;
And he smiled and laid so gently
One dear hand upon my head;
It was bleeding, it was bleeding,
And I knew for me it bled!

5 "I will be thy guest forever,"
Said the stranger unto me;
But the cost--say, hast thou counted--
Counted what the cost will be?
Earthly pleasures, earthly pleasures,
Wilt thou leave them all for me?

6 "Wilt thou take my yoke upon thee?
Wilt thou humbly bear my name?
Crush the risings of ambition,
And the hopes of earthly fame?
Freely suffering, freely suffering,
For my sake, reproach and shame?'

7 Then I said, "Both fame and pleasure
Willingly I can resign;
Let me only feel thy presence,
Let me know that thou art mine,
And dear Saviour, and dear Saviour,
All I have and am are thine!