James Montgomery

Reception into Church Fellowship. -- I.

Come in, thou blessed of the Lord,

Stranger nor foe art thou;

We welcome thee with warm accord,

Our Friend, our Brother now.

The hand of fellowship, the heart

Of love, we offer thee;

Leaving the world, thou dost but part

From lies and vanity.

The cup of blessing which we bless,

The heavenly bread we break,

(Our Saviour's blood and righteousness,)

Freely with us partake.

In weal or woe, in joy or care,

Thy portion shall be ours;

Christians their mutual burthen share,

They lend their mutual powers.

Come with us, we will do thee good,

As God to us hath done,

Stand but in Him, as those have stood,

Whose faith the victory won.

And when by turns we pass away,

As star by star grows dim,

May each, translated into day,

Be lost and found in Him.