1. A ruler once came to Jesus by night To ask Him the way of salvation and light; The Master made answer in words true and plain, "Ye must be born again." 2. Ye children of men, attend to the Word, So solemnly uttered by Jesus the Lord; And let not this message to you be in vain, "Ye must be born again." 3. O ye who would enter that glorious rest, And sing with the ransomed the song of the blest, The life everlasting if ye would obtain, "Ye must be born again." 4. A dear one in Heaven thy heart yearns to see, At the beautiful gate may be watching for thee, Then list to the note of this solemn refrain, "Ye must be born again." Chorus: "Ye must be born again, Ye must be born again, I verily, verily, say unto thee, Ye must be born again."
Lyrics: William True Sleeper
Music: George Coles Stebbins
Tune: BORN AGAIN
William T. Sleeper, 1819–1904
The composer of this hymn, George C. Stebbins, tells in his Memoirs and Reminiscences about the time he was assisting Dr. George F. Pentecost in an evangelistic crusade in Worcester, Massachusetts, when Dr. Pentecost preached on Christ’s statement to Nicodemus in John 3:3 about the need of being born again. With the strong impression of this sermon still in his mind, Stebbins contacted one of the pastors in the city, William Sleeper, and asked his assistance in writing verses for the musical ideas he had for this text. “He acted at once upon my suggestion,” said Stebbins, “and soon after came to me with the hymn text.