Jesus calls us, o'er the tumult

233 Galilee. 8. 7. 8. 7.

1 Jesus calls us, o'er the tumult
   of our life's wild, restless sea;
   Day by day that voice still calls us,
   saying, "Christian, follow me."

2 Jesus calls us from the worship
   of the treasures we adore,
   From each idol that would keep us,
   saying, "Christian, love me more."

3 In our joys and in our sorrows,
   days of toil and hours of ease,
   Jesus calls, in cares and pleasures,
   "Christian, love me more than these."

4 Jesus calls us! By your mercies,
   Savior, may we hear your call,
   Give our hearts to your obedience,
   serve and love you best of all.
                         Cecil F. Alexander
                         The Methodist Hymnal 1939 edition

<idle musing>
I don't recall ever singing this hymn, but it appears in over 900 hymnals. Strange how hymns you think everyone should know are in less than 200 hymnals, and other ones, that you never heard, are in so many. It just reflects the traditions that we are familiar with.

Also, according to hymnary.org, there is another verse, inserted after verse 1:

2 As of old, Saint Andrew heard it
   by the Galilean lake,
   Turned from home and toil and kindred,
   leaving all for Jesus' sake.

Incidentally, you should check out the biography of the writer; here's a brief snippet:

She showed her concern for disadvantaged people by traveling many miles each day to visit the sick and the poor, providing food, warm clothes, and medical supplies. She and her sister also founded a school for the deaf.

I wonder if anyone has written a study of the women hymnwriters of the 19th century? Seems it would be a fruitful study.
</idle musing>