STORIES BEHIND THE HYMNS: ALMOST PERSUADED: More than 2,000 years ago, King Agrippa told the Apostle Paul: You almost persuade me to be a Christian. - Acts 26:28. In 1871, Reverend Brundage expounded upon this sad story, and then ended one of his Sunday morning sermons with the words: He who is almost persuaded is almost saved, and to be almost saved is to be entirely lost. Philip Paul Bliss (1838-1876), the writer and composer of this hymn and many others, including The Light of the World is Jesus and Dare to Be a Daniel, was among the audience listening to Brundages sermon. The reverends powerful closing words left a much impression upon Bliss thought that he immediately set about composing this hymn, one of his most popular songs, with the same sentiment. Almost Persuaded was published that same year in The Charm, a collection of Sunday school music, and quickly found its way into the majority of English Christian hymnals. The compelling words have since been sung at many alter calls. One of the most impressive occasions on which this hymn was sung was in the Agricultural Hall in London, in 1874, when Evangelist Dwight Lyman Moody (1837-1899), at the close of his sermon, asked the congregation to bow their heads, while Bliss sang Almost Persuaded. The stillness of death prevailed throughout the audience of over fifteen thousand souls, who were making their decisions for Christ. Almost Persuaded: Almost persuaded, now to believe; almost persuaded, Christ to receive; seems now some soul to say, Go, Spirit, go Thy way; some more convenient day on Thee, I will call. Almost persuaded, come, come today; almost persuaded, turn not away; Jesus invites you here, angels are lingering near; prayers rise from hearts so dear; O wanderer, come! Almost persuaded, harvest is past! Almost persuaded, doom comes at last! Almost cannot avail; almost is but to fail! Sad, sad, that bitter wail: Almost, but lost!
Posted on: Thu, 24 Oct 2013 16:50:26 +0000
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