John H. Stockton, 1813-77
An invitation hymn that has been a help and blessing to many. The original refrain:
“Come to Jesus, come to Jesus,
Come to Jesus now.”
was changed by Ira Sankey to
“Only trust Him, only trust Him.”
In leading this song, Sankey sometimes changed the chorus to
“I will trust Him,” or “I do trust Him.”
John H. Stockton, composer of words and music, was born at New Hope, Pa., and reared in a Presbyterian family. At the age of 19 he was converted in a Methodist camp meeting and became a Methodist preacher. After many years of pastoral and evangelistic work, as a member of the New Jersey Annual Conference, he retired in 1874. He had considerable musical ability and published two gospel song books, Salvation Melodies, 1874, and Precious Songs, 1875. He rendered valuable assistance in the Moody and Sankey meeting held in Philadelphia, after which Sankey wrote him:
I thank my Heavenly Father for enabling you to write so much sweet music, as well as words; and I hope you may long be spared to bless the world with your “precious songs.” I wish you to accept our regards for one whose songs have been blessed to tens of thousands in the lands beyond the seas.