Afflictions, though they seem severe;
In mercy oft are sent;
They stopped the prodigal’s career,
And forced him to repent.

Although he no relentings felt
Till he had spent his store;
His stubborn heart began to melt
When famine pinched him sore.

“What have I gained by sin, he said,
But hunger, shame, and fear;
My father’s house abounds with bread,
While I am starving here.

I’ll go, and tell him all I’ve done,
And fall before his face
Unworthy to be called his son,
I’ll seek a servant’s place.”

His father saw him coming back,
He saw, and ran, and smiled;
And threw his arms around the neck
Of his rebellious child.

“Father, I’ve sinned—but O forgive!”
I’ve heard enough, he said,
Rejoice my house, my son’s alive,
For whom I mourned as dead.

Now let the fatted calf be slain,
And spread the news around;
My son was dead, but lives again,
Was lost, but now is found.

’Tis thus the Lord His love reveals,
To call poor sinners home;
More than a father’s love He feels,
And welcomes all that come.

Are you coming home, ye wandr’ers,
Whom Jesus died to win,
All footsore, lame and weary,
Your garments stained with sin;
Will you seek the blood of Jesus
To wash your garments white;
Will you trust His precious promise,
Are you coming home tonight?

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Are you coming home tonight,
Are you coming home tonight,
Are you coming home to Jesus,
Out of darkness into light?
Are you coming home tonight,
Are you coming home tonight,
To your loving, heav’nly Father,
Are you coming home tonight?

Are you coming home, ye lost ones?
Behold your Lord doth wait;
Come, then no longer linger,
Come ere it be too late;
Will you come and let Him save you,
O trust His love and might;
Will you come while He is calling,
Are you coming home tonight?

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Are you coming home, ye guilty,
Who bear the load of sin;
Outside you’ve long been standing,
Come now and venture in;
Will you heed the Savior’s promise,
And dare to trust Him quite;
“Come unto Me,” saith Jesus,
Are you coming home tonight?

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Vile and sinful tho’ my heart may be,
Fully trusting Lord, I come to Thee;
Thou hast pow’r to cleanse and make me free,
I am coming home.

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Coming home, coming home,
No longer in the path of sin to roam;
I’m coming home, coming home,
Lord Jesus, I am coming home.

Like a father seeks a wayward child,
Thou hast sought me o’er the desert wild,
Sick and helpless, by my sin defiled,
I am coming home.

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Pleading tenderly, His voice I hear,
Why should I refuse a friend so dear?
He will take away my guilt and fear,
I am coming home.

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Precious blood of Jesus, may its flow
Cleanse from evil, wash me white as snow;
There is hope alone in Thee, I know,
I am coming home.

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Tell my mother what her boy has done,
God has spoken to her wayward son;
To be faithful till my crown is won,
I am coming home.

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I have heard the welcome story
Of redemption, full and free;
I have wandered, O my Father,
But Thy child I long to be.

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I am coming home to Thee,
Coming home to Thee;
I have heard the invitation,
And I’m coming home to Thee,
I am coming home to Thee,
Coming home to Thee;
I have heard the invitation,
And I’m coming home to Thee.

I have heard the welcome story
And it makes my heart rejoice;
I have heard the gentle pleading
Of the Spirit’s warning voice.

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I am coming, gladly coming,
For I can no longer stay
From Thy loving arms of mercy,
And Thy precious fold, away.

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Jesus, I am coming home today, for
I have found there’s joy in Thee alone;
From the path of sin I turn away; now
I am coming home.

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Jesus, I am coming home today,
Never, never more from Thee to stray;
Lord, I now accept Thy precious promise,
I am coming home.

Many years my heart has strayed from Thee, and
Now repentant to Thy throne I come;
Jesus opened up the way for me; now
I am coming home.

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O the misery my sin has caused me,
Naught but pain and sorrow I have known;
Now I seek Thy saving grace and mercy;
I am coming home.

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Fully trusting in Thy precious promise,
With no righteousness to call my own,
Pleading nothing but the blood of Jesus,
I am coming home.

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Now I seek the cross where Jesus died! For
All my sins His blood will still atone,
Flowing o’er till ev’ry stain is covered;
I am coming home.

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Father, I scarcely dare to pray,
So clear I see, now it is done,
How I have wasted half my day,
And left my work but just begun.
So clear I see that things I thought
Were right or harmless were a sin;
So clear I see that I have sought,
Unconscious, selfish aims to win.

So clear I see that I have hurt
The souls I might have helped to save;
That I have slothful been, inert,
Deaf to the calls Thy leaders gave.
In outskirts of Thy kingdoms vast
Father, the humblest spot give me;
Set me the lowliest task Thou hast,
Let me repentant work for Thee.

Like a wayward child I wandered
From my Father’s house away,
But I hear His voice entreating,
And I’m coming home today.

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Coming, coming home,
Coming, coming home,
For I can no longer roam;
I am sad and broken hearted,
And I’m coming, coming home!

I have wandered in the darkness,
And my path was lone and drear,
But my Father did not leave me,
He was watching ever near.

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O the rapture that awaits me
When I reach my Father’s door!
Once within its blest enclosure,
I am safe forevermore.

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I will ask Him to forgive me
For the wrong that I have done,
To receive, accept and bless me,
Through His well belovèd Son.

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I’ve wandered far away from God,
Now I’m coming home;
The paths of sin too long I’ve trod,
Lord, I’m coming home.

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Coming home, coming home,
Nevermore to roam,
Open wide Thine arms of love,
Lord, I’m coming home.

I’ve wasted many precious years,
Now I’m coming home;
I now repent with bitter tears,
Lord, I’m coming home.

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I’m tired of sin and straying, Lord,
Now I’m coming home;
I’ll trust Thy love, believe Thy Word,
Lord, I’m coming home.

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My soul is sick, my heart is sore,
Now I’m coming home;
My strength renew, my hope restore,
Lord, I’m coming home.

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My only hope, my only plea,
Now I’m coming home;
That Jesus died, and died for me.
Lord, I’m coming home.

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I need His cleansing blood, I know,
Now I’m coming home;
O wash me whiter than the snow,
Lord, I’m coming home.

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Lord, to Thee I make confession;
I have sinned and gone astray,
I have multiplied transgression,
Chosen for myself my way.
Led by Thee to see my errors,
Lord, I tremble at Thy terrors.

Yet, though conscience’s voice appall me,
Father, I will seek Thy face;
Tho’ Thy child I dare not call me,
Yet receive me to Thy grace.
Do not for my sins forsake me;
Do not let Thy wrath o’ertake me.

For Thy Son did suffer for me,
Gave Himself to rescue me,
Died to heal me and restore me,
Reconciled me unto Thee.
’Tis alone His cross can vanquish
These dark fears and soothe this anguish.

Then on Him I cast my burden,
Sink it in the depths below.
Let me know Thy gracious pardon,
Wash me, make me white as snow.
Let Thy Spirit leave me never;
Make me only Thine forever.

People of the living God,
I have sought the world around;
Paths of sin and sorrow trod,
Peace and comfort nowhere found:
Now to you my spirit turns—
Turns a fugitive unblest;
Brethren, where your altar burns,
Oh, receive me into rest.

Lonely I no longer roam
Like the cloud, the wind, the wave;
Where you dwell shall be my home,
Where you die shall be my grave;
Mine the God Whom you adore;
Your Redeemer shall be mine;
Earth can fill my soul no more—
Every idol I resign.

Tell me not of gain and loss,
Ease, enjoyment, pomp, and pow’r;
Welcome poverty and cross,
Shame reproach, affliction’s hour.
“Follow Me”—I know Thy voice;
Jesus, Lord, Thy steps I see;
Now I take Thy yoke by choice,
Light Thy burden now to me.

Pilgrim, burdened with thy sin,
Come the way to Zion’s gate:
There, till mercy lets thee in,
Knock, and weep, and watch, and wait.
Knock—He knows the sinner’s cry;
Weep—He loves the mourner’s tears;
Watch, for saving grace is nigh;
Wait, till heavenly light appears.

Hark, it is the Bridegroom’s voice:
“Welcome, pilgrim to thy rest!”
Now within the gate rejoice,
Safe, and sealed, and bought, and blest
Safe, from all the lures of vice;
Sealed, by signs the chosen know;
Bought by love, and life the price;
Blest, the mighty debt to owe.

Holy pilgrim, what for thee
In a world like this remain?
From thy guarded breast shall flee
Fear, and shame, and doubt, and pain;
Fear, the hope of Heav’n shall fly;
Shame, from glory’s view retire;
Doubt, in certain rapture die;
Pain, in endless bliss expire.

Out in the wilderness wild and drear,
Sadly I’ve wandered for many a year,
Driven by hunger and filled with fear,
I will arise and go;
Backward with sorrow my steps to trace,
Seeking my heavenly Father’s face,
Willing to take but a servant’s place,
I will arise and go.

Refrain

Back to my Father and home,
Back to my Father and home,
I will arise and go
Back to my Father and home.

Why should I perish in dark despair,
Here where there’s no one to help or care,
When there is shelter and food to spare?
I will arise and go;
Deeply repenting the wrong I’ve done,
Worthy no more to be called a son,
Hoping my Father His child may own,
I will arise and go.

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Sweet are the memories that come to me,
Faces of loved ones again I see,
Visions of home where I used to be,
I will arise and go;
Others have gone who had wandered, too,
They were forgiven, were clothed anew,
Why should I linger with home in view?
I will arise and go.

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O that I never had gone astray!
Life was all radiant with hope one day,
Now all its treasures I’ve thrown away,
Yet I’ll arise and go;
Something is saying, “God loves you still,
Tho’ you have treated His love so ill,”
I must not wait, for the night grows chill,
I will arise and go.

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You have wandered far on the desert lone,
And you face an awful fate,
For a storm is near and the night comes on—
Take the home-path ere too late.

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Take the home-path, take the home-path,
Night is coming, do not wait;
Take the home-path, take the home-path,
Take the home-path ere too late.

You have been allured from the peaceful way
By your soul’s relentless foe;
Let the Savior true take your hand today,
For He knows the way to go.

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While the chance is yours turn your back to sin,
Seeking pardon, humbly bow;
You’ve a soul to save and a crown to win,
And the time to start is now.

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Th’abyss of many a former sin
Encloses me and bars me in;
Like billows my transgressions roll:
Be Thou the Pilot of my soul,
And to salvation’s harbor bring
Thou Savior and Thou glorious King.

My Father’s heritage abused,
Wasted by lust, by sin misused;
To shame and want and misery brought,
The slave to many a fruitless thought,
I cry to Thee, who lovest men,
O pity and receive again!

In hunger now, no more possessed,
Of that my portion bright and blest,
The exile and the alien see,
Who yet would fain return to Thee,
And save me, Lord, who seek to raise
To Thy dear love the hymn of praise!

With that blest thief my prayer I make,
“Remember” for Thy mercy’s sake!
With that poor publican I cry,
“Be merciful,” O God most high!
With that lost prodigal I fain
Back to my home would turn again!

Mourn, mourn, my soul, with earnest care,
And raise to Christ the contrite prayer;
“O Thou, who freely wast made poor,
My sorrows and my sins to cure,
Me, poor of all good works, embrace,
Enriching with Thy boundless grace!”

Father, again in Jesus’ Name we meet,
And bow in penitence beneath Your feet;
Again to You our feeble voices raise,
To sue for mercy, and to sing Your praise.

O we would bless You for Your ceaseless care,
And all Your works from day to day declare;
Is not our life with hourly mercies crowned?
Does not Your arm encircle us around?

Alas, unworthy of Your boundless love,
Too oft with careless feet from You we rove;
But now, encouraged by Your voice, we come,
Returning sinners to a Father’s home.

O by that Name in Whom all fulness dwells,
O by that love which ev’ry love excels,
O by that blood so freely shed for sin,
Open blest mercy’s gate and take us in.

Where is my wandering boy tonight—
The boy of my tenderest care,
The boy that was once my joy and light,
The child of my love and prayer?

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O where is my boy tonight?
O where is my boy tonight?
My heart o’erflows, for I love him, he knows;
O where is my boy tonight?

Once he was pure as morning dew,
As he knelt at his mother’s knee;
No face was as bright, no heart more true,
And none was so sweet as he.

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O could I see you now, my boy,
As fair as in olden time,
When prattle and smile made home a joy,
And life was a merry chime!

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Go for my wandering boy tonight;
Go search for him where you will;
But bring him to me with all his blight,
And tell him I love him still.

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O great God of nations, revive us, we pray,
Raise prodigal hearts to contrition today;
In pride have we turned from Your life giving Word,
Embracing the darkness while truth goes unheard.
Create deep within us a clean heart today,
Renew a right spirit, and teach us to say:
Awaken, my soul, and send anthems above,
To Him Who is yearning to bless you in love.

Forsake not Your people though far we do roam,
As hedonists, spendthrifts, abandoning home;
But finally, throwing our folly aside,
We see You are waiting with arms open wide.
We plead Your forgiveness, our Father, we pray,
O heal prideful blindness and teach us to say:
How mighty the love that can conquer our sin,
And open the door to the banquet within.

In faith and in gratitude, then, must we share
The good news of Jesus with lands everywhere,
With peoples still groping and stumbling in night;
For them You command us to send out the light.
To shout from the rooftops, proclaim o’er the wave,
That Christ has redeemed from the depths of the grave:
Pour out, then, Your Spirit, afresh in this hour,
Enable our tongues to speak out with Your power.

“Abba, Father!” We approach Thee
In our Savior’s precious Name;
We, Thy children, here assembled,
Now Thy promised blessing claim;
From our sins His blood hath washed us,
’Tis through Him our souls draw nigh,
And Thy Spirit, too, hath taught us,
“Abba, Father,” thus to cry.

Once as prodigals we wandered
In our folly far from Thee,
But Thy grace, o’er sin abounding,
Rescued us from misery;
Thou Thy prodigals hast pardoned,
Kissed us with a Father’s love,
Spread the festive board, and called us,
E’er to dwell with Thee above.

Clothed in garments of salvation,
At Thy table is our place,
We rejoice, and Thou rejoicest,
In the riches of Thy grace;
“It is meet,” we hear Thee saying,
“We should merry and be glad,
I have found My once lost children,
Now they live who once were dead.”

“Abba, Father!” all adore Thee,
All rejoice in Heav’n above,
While in us they learn the wonders
Of Thy wisdom, grace, and love;
Soon before Thy throne assembled,
All Thy children shall proclaim,
“Glory, everlasting glory,
Be to God and to the Lamb!”

God is calling the prodigal, come without delay,
Hear, O hear Him calling, calling now for thee.
Tho’ you’ve wandered so far from His presence, come today,
Hear His loving voice calling still.

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Calling now for thee, O weary prodigal, come;
Calling now for thee, O weary prodigal, come.

Patient, loving and tenderly still the Father pleads,
Hear, O hear Him calling, calling now for thee;
Oh! return while the Spirit in mercy intercedes,
Hear His loving voice calling still.

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Come, there’s bread in the house of the Father, and to spare,
Hear, O hear Him calling, calling now for thee;
Lo! the table is spread and the feast is waiting there,
Hear His loving voice calling still.

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