ONLY TRUST HIM

        Many stirring invitation hymns were products of great revivals such as those led by Dwight L. Moody (1837-1899) and Ira Sankey (1840-1908).   Such hymns were an essential part of these services.  They were used following powerful sermons by the evangelist to encourage people to come forward.  These hymns were simple and spoke directly to the heart with an invitation to respond to the gospel message.  This week's hymn which was used for invitations was written by John H. Stockton in 1869.  According to Ira Sankey, Moody's music director, " While on the way to England with Mr. Moody in 1873, one day in mid-ocean, as I was looking over a list of hymns in my scrapbook, I noticed one commencing, Come every soul by sin oppressed.  Believing that these words had been so often sung that they were hackneyed, I decided to change them and tell how to come to Jesus by substituting the words, only trust Him.  In this form it was first published in London.  While holding meetings in Her Majesty's Theater in Pall Mall, London, and singing this hymn, I thought I would change the chorus again, and asked the people to sing, I will trust Him. Then as we sang I decided to change it once more and asked them to sing I do trust Him.  God blessed this rendering of the hymn to eight persons present who testified afterward that  by the change they were all led to accept salvation."  Stockton, the original author, was raised as a Presbyterian and converted to Methodism in a camp at the age of 21.  He became a licensed minister in 1857, but his ministry was cut short by illness in 1874 and his death in 1877.  Of the many hymns which he said to have written, this is the only one that has continued in use today.  The original refrain of his 1874 song of invitation was apparently:

Come to Jesus, come to Jesus,

Come to Jesus now;

He will save you, He will save you,

He will save you now.

Sankey's changes in the refrain to what we have now makes the only thing needed for salvation plain - faith in Christ.  There was also a fifth stanza that appears in early publications. Though it expresses a personal reception of the gospel, it has been dropped in modern hymn books.

(5)   O Jesus, blessed Jesus, dear,

I'm coming now to Thee;

Since Thou hast made the way so clear

And full salvation free.

When it was first published, Matthew 11:29 appeared on the page with the hymn. "Take my yoke upon you and learn of me ... and ye shall find rest unto your souls."  While this hymn was written for revival services which seldom are held today, its message is still clear and relevant today.  The Lord still calls those by sin oppressed and with His mercy He will save.  Today He is the only one with the power to do this.  Yes He will save you, He will save you, He will save you now.  Have you answered His call?.

1     Come, every soul by sin oppressed;

There's mercy with the Lord,

And He will surely give you rest

By trusting in His Word.

Only trust Him, only trust Him,

Only trust Him now;

He will save you, He will save you,

He will save you now.

2.     For Jesus shed His precious blood

Rich blessings to bestow;

Plunge now into the crimson flood

That washes white as snow.

Only trust Him, only trust Him,

Only trust Him now;

He will save you, He will save you,

He will save you now.

3.     Yes, Jesus is the truth, the way,

That leads you into rest;

Believe in Him without delay

And you are fully blessed.

Only trust Him, only trust Him,

Only trust Him now;

He will save you, He will save you,

He will save you now.

4.     Come, then, and join this holy band,

And on to glory go

To dwell in that celestial land

Where joys immortal flow.

Only trust Him, only trust Him,

Only trust Him now;

He will save you, He will save you,

He will save you now.

Listen to it being sung here.   LISTEN