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Come Ye Sinners
text: Joseph Hart
music: Matthew Smith

Introduction by Matthew Smith:

When I set out to write new music to this hymn, I was really taken by its lyric. I had never (to my memory), heard the original music, so there was a blank canvas for me to begin with.

What strikes me about the song is that it’s a celebratory invitation. A declaration of free grace. The King of Kings invites us to enter into the banquet that has been fully paid for. “Without money...come to Jesus Christ and buy.” I tried to capture this feeling of celebration when writing the new music. The final phrase of each verse (often omitted from some modern versions) always points us away from ourselves and towards the perfect Christ. Even though we are not fit to enter his presence, we are urged to in light of the slaughtered lamb. Our fond dreams of being worthy on our own merit to enter God’s presence are an insult to him. Indeed, “All the fitness he requires is to feel your need of him!”

But the prideful human heart will latch on to anything that it may. If the only requirement is to feel a need for Christ, then it will quickly take credit even for that response. But Christ declares that he is the one solely responsible even for our desire for salvation! “This he gives you...tis the Spirit’s rising beam!” What a salvation! What a Savior! I thank God that we do not have a mediator who is standing at the portals “waiting and watching” (as suggested by another popular song). Our redeemer is not just full of pity, but “full of pity joined with power!” He takes an active role in our salvation, not only preparing the banquet and inviting us to it, but dressing us up in his righteousness. We cannot enter without it.

May God turn our eyes away from our own ability to please him. May he direct us to gaze on the beautiful Christ, who has suceeded where we have failed, and credited to us his righteousness. “He is able, he is able! He is willing, doubt no more!” Amen.

1. Come ye sinners, poor and wretched,
weak and wounded, sick and sore.
Jesus, ready, stands to save you,
Full of pity joined with power.
He is able, He is able; He is willing; Doubt no more.

2. Come ye needy, come and welcome;
God’s free bounty glorify:
True belief and true repentance,
every grace that brings you nigh.
Without money, without money
Come to Jesus Christ and buy.

3. Come ye weary, heavy laden,
Bruised and broken by the fall.
If you tarry till you’re better,
you will never come at all.
Not the righteous, not the righteous;
Sinners Jesus came to call.

4. Let not conscience make you linger,
nor of fitness fondly dream.
All the fitness He requireth
is to feel your need of Him.
This He gives you, this He gives you,
’Tis the Spirit’s rising beam.

5. Lo! The Incarnate God, ascended;
pleads the merit of His blood.
Venture on Him; venture wholly,
Let no other trust intrude.
None but Jesus, none but Jesus
Can do helpless sinners good.