William True Sleeper Grave

Hymn History: Jesus, I Come & Author: William True Sleeper

“I never wasted a moment. When I was not at work, I always took my singing-book or some other book which I was studying, and was thus learning something.”
(William True Sleeper)

The Origin of the Hymn “Jesus, I Come”

Among the many invitation hymns that have echoed through revival meetings and worship services for more than a century, few have captured the heart’s longing for deliverance and peace as simply and beautifully as “Jesus, I Come.” Written by William True Sleeper in 1887 and set to music by George C. Stebbins, this hymn expresses the soul’s yearning to leave behind sin, sorrow, and self and to find rest and joy in Jesus Christ. Its gentle refrain, “Jesus, I come to Thee,” has been sung by countless seekers who have found new life at the foot of the cross.

The Hymnwriter: William True Sleeper

William True Sleeper (1819–1904) was a Congregational minister who served in the New England area during the late 19th century. Born in Danvers, Massachusetts, Sleeper graduated from Dartmouth College in 1840 and entered the ministry shortly thereafter. His pastoral career spanned more than forty years, during which he served faithfully as a preacher, counselor, and hymnwriter.

Though Sleeper was not widely known as a poet, his heart was deeply stirred by the spiritual revivals that swept through America during his lifetime. Like many pastors of his day, he sought ways to communicate the gospel’s message of redemption in words that were simple, heartfelt, and direct. His hymns were not written for literary acclaim, but to call sinners to repentance and faith in Christ.

It was during one of these seasons of revival in the late 1880s that Sleeper penned the words to “Jesus, I Come.” The hymn first appeared in Gospel Hymns No. 5 (1887), a popular collection edited by Dwight L. Moody’s musical associates, Ira D. Sankey, James McGranahan, and George C. Stebbins.

The Composer: George C. Stebbins

George Coles Stebbins (1846–1945) was one of the most influential gospel musicians of the 19th and early 20th centuries. A close colleague of evangelists Dwight L. Moody and Daniel W. Whittle, Stebbins helped shape the sound of the American gospel song movement. His melodies, characterized by tenderness and accessibility, gave emotional power to the simple but profound words of revival hymnwriters.

When Stebbins received Sleeper’s text for “Jesus, I Come,” he was struck by its clarity and sincerity. The poem expressed in plain language what so many sinners feel when confronted by the grace of God—a desire to leave behind the darkness of sin and enter into the light of Christ’s forgiveness. Stebbins composed a melody that perfectly matched the tone of humble surrender found in the words. The result was a hymn of deep personal confession and quiet joy.

A Hymn of Release and Transformation

The beauty of “Jesus, I Come” lies in its structure: each verse begins with an acknowledgment of the soul’s bondage or sorrow and ends with the hope found in Christ. The repetition of the phrase “Out of…” followed by the refrain “Jesus, I come to Thee” creates a powerful rhythm of confession and deliverance.

The first stanza captures the essence of conversion:

Out of my bondage, sorrow, and night,
Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
Into Thy freedom, gladness, and light,
Jesus, I come to Thee.

Each subsequent verse builds upon this theme—moving from failure to victory, from unrest to peace, from the world’s pride to Christ’s humility. It is a hymn of movement—of the soul stepping away from the old life and into the new.

This theme of transformation mirrors the words of 2 Corinthians 5:17:

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

In every verse, Sleeper’s language remains personal and direct. There is no grand theology or complex imagery—only the honest cry of a sinner who has discovered the Savior’s open arms.

Use in Revival and Worship

When “Jesus, I Come” appeared in Moody and Sankey’s songbooks, it quickly became a favorite at evangelistic meetings throughout the English-speaking world. The hymn’s gentle invitation and singable melody made it especially powerful as an altar call song. As congregations sang its words, many were moved to step forward in repentance and faith.

Evangelists of the early 20th century, such as R. A. Torrey and Billy Sunday, frequently used the hymn in their campaigns. It was also beloved in small country churches, where the simple message of coming to Christ resonated deeply with ordinary believers.

In later years, “Jesus, I Come” found its way into denominational hymnals and gospel songbooks across traditions. Its message—of leaving behind sin and entering into grace—remains timeless. The hymn has been recorded by numerous artists, from traditional gospel quartets to contemporary worship leaders, ensuring that new generations continue to sing its message of hope.

Spiritual Significance

The enduring appeal of “Jesus, I Come” lies in its universality. Every Christian, regardless of background, can identify with its journey from darkness to light. It gives voice to the believer’s daily act of surrender—coming to Jesus not only for salvation, but for strength, comfort, and renewal.

George Stebbins himself once remarked that this hymn was among his most beloved compositions because it expressed “the entire experience of the Christian life—coming to Jesus again and again.”

In this sense, “Jesus, I Come” is more than a hymn of initial conversion; it is a lifelong prayer of faith. Each time it is sung, it invites the singer to leave behind fear, failure, and sin and to enter once more into the loving presence of Christ.

Conclusion

From a quiet New England parsonage in 1887 came a hymn that would echo around the world. William True Sleeper’s “Jesus, I Come” and George C. Stebbins’s gentle melody joined to form a timeless invitation—an open door through which weary souls have found rest in Christ.

More than a century later, its refrain still calls softly and tenderly:

Jesus, I come to Thee.

Those simple words continue to express the heart of the gospel—an invitation from the Savior Himself, and the faithful response of every soul that finds peace at His feet.