Composed by John Newton, this Lenten hymn was first published in Olney Hymns (1779, Book III, No. 12) in six stanzas of four lines. In the original volume, it appeared as the second of two pieces grouped under the heading "The Effort." The companion hymn, also by Newton, began with the line "Cheer up, my soul, there is a mercy seat."
The text quickly gained widespread popularity, becoming one of Newton's most enduring and widely used devotional works. An altered excerpt starting with stanza two ("Lord, I am come, Thy promise is my plea") appeared in The American College Hymnal in 1876, though this variant saw limited use compared to the original text.
Related Hymns
Hymns in the library connected to this dictionary topic.
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Approach, My Soul, the Mercy Seat
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Amazing grace! (how sweet the sound)
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How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds
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Glorious Things Of Thee Are Spoken
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I Saw One Hanging on a Tree
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Safely Through Another Week
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Day of Judgment, Day of Wonders!
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Zacchaeus Climbed the Tree
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