George Coles Stebbins |
Stebbins
studied music in Buffalo and Rochester, New York, then became a singing
teacher. Around 1869, he moved to Chicago, Illinois, to join the Lyon and Healy
Music Company. He also became the music director at the First Baptist Church
in Chicago. It was in Chicago that he met the leaders in the Gospel music
field, such as George Root, Philip Bliss, and Ira Sankey.
At
age 28, Stebbins moved to Boston, Massachusetts, where he became music director
at the Claredon Street Baptist Church; the pastor there was Adoniram Gordon.
Two years later, Stebbins became music director at Tremont Temple in Boston.
Shortly thereafter, he became involved in evangelism campaigns with Moody and
others. Around 1900, Stebbins spent a year as an evangelist in India, Egypt,
Italy, Palestine, France and England.
Out
of my bondage, sorrow, and night,
Jesus,
I come, Jesus, I come;
Into
Thy freedom, gladness, and light,
Jesus,
I come to Thee;
Out
of my sickness, into Thy health,
Out
of my want and into Thy wealth,
Out
of my sin and into Thyself,
Jesus,
I come to Thee.
Out
of my shameful failure and loss,
Jesus,
I come, Jesus, I come;
Into
the glorious gain of Thy cross,
Jesus,
I come to Thee.
Out
of earth’s sorrows into Thy balm,
Out
of life’s storms and into Thy calm,
Out
of distress to jubilant psalm,
Jesus,
I come to Thee.
Out
of unrest and arrogant pride,
Jesus,
I come, Jesus, I come;
Into
Thy blessèd will to abide,
Jesus,
I come to Thee.
Out
of myself to dwell in Thy love,
Out
of despair into raptures above,
Upward
for aye on wings like a dove,
Jesus,
I come to Thee.
Out
of the fear and dread of the tomb,
Jesus,
I come, Jesus, I come;
Into
the joy and light of Thy throne,
Jesus,
I come to Thee.
Out
of the depths of ruin untold,
Into
the peace of Thy sheltering fold,
Ever
Thy glorious face to behold,
Jesus,
I come to Thee.