Nobody Ever Asked John to Come

John was a blacksmith, a most wretched man,
Knowing all that a blatent and a blasphemer can
He loved the world and all that is bad
Living, but spiritually in sin he was dead.

Churches were opened, the Gospel preached,
Still John the blacksmith's heart was not reached;
He cursed the children of God and his wife,
Beyond moral recovery they thought was his life.

Back in the country, not far from town
Lived an old couple, Father and Mother Brown.
Their ages were close to ninety years
Living in Christ without sorrow and fears.

Early one morning he got out of bed,
"Start the fire, wife and toast me some bread;
I must go to town when breakfast is done
I'm starting out to blacksmith John."

"You go to town? Why you are out of your head
We haven't any way so let's go to bed."
"I have to go, I had a dream last night
Don't keep me back that would not be right."

When breakfast was over, the strange dream told,
Father Brown started off though ninety years old.
He hobbled along, how weary the way
But he reached the town at the peak of day.

Through main street he trudged into narrow Cross street
His steps grew quicker, though tired his feet.
"Why Father Brown what has brought you out here?"
Called John from his shop, as the old man drew near.

"I'm very tired so let us sit down
While simply I'll tell you what brought me to town.
I dreamed that the time I have waited so long
Had come and I joined the Heavenly throng.

My room full of angels the Lord had sent
Put their arms under me and away we went
Beyond the hills, beyond the clouds we mounted on high
Oh how they all sang as we swept through the sky.

Look yonder there's Heaven coming in sight!
But John I can't tell you of my delight
Every hill robed in gladness, how they welcomed me in
No sin enters Heaven, they're washed free from sin.

I found all my children, what a happy day!
My boy, that you used to be with and play
Then after a while they brought my dear wife.
We all sat under the tree of life.

The beauty of nature, the flowers fair
Such music and singing was heard up there
The gates were of pearl, the streets of gold.
And so the years of eternity rolled.

I was so distressed, my heart filled with care
So I went to the Lord and asked where you were.
The Saviour looked up, down His cheek a tear
'No one asked him to come - John is not here.'

Oh how the Lord wept, to His feet I fell,
'Blessed Lord let me out, I'll go and tell
I'll go and invite him and show him the light
Tho his sins be as scarlet, they may be washed snowy white.'

Right there I awoke and oh I was glad,
As quick as I could I jumped out of bed
And here I am, I have told you the way
Repent and believe, oh do not delay."

The blacksmith stood there as one petrified
He could not speak or even reply.
Father Brown got up, then bade him good-bye,
"Remember John, the judgment is nigh."

When the blacksmith started his work that day
Everything seemed to go the very wrong way.
"Oh God, be merciful, forgive my sin;
My life has been wretched, forgive the way I've been."

He closed the shop, went home to his wife
And told what had taken place in his life.
They sent for Father Brown that day;
He accepted Jesus, as they knelt down to pray.