A look to Jesus saves the soul

"A look to Jesus saves the soul" is a mid-nineteenth-century evangelical hymn written by the Isle of Wight poet and writer Albert Midlane. Framed around the theme of "Jesus only," the lyric serves as a direct and simple exposition of the doctrine of salvation by faith alone, emphasizing that a single spiritual glance toward Christ brings complete redemption.

The hymn was written in March 1862 and achieved formal publication three years later when it was included in Midlane's own collection, Gospel Echoes (1865). In that volume, the lyric was entered as number 101 and structured in five stanzas of four lines each.

Due to its clear, accessible message, the hymn quickly gained traction outside of Great Britain, specifically within revival movements and specialized evangelical assemblies. In 1871, it was selected for inclusion as hymn number 17 in Lord Adelbert Cecil's Canadian Hymn Book for Gospel Meetings, published in Ottawa.

It later crossed back into British popular evangelicalism when it was included in Broom's Good News Hymn Book in 1883, alongside several other contemporary collections designed specifically for evangelistic campaigns and prayer meetings.