Scripture Verse

I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat. Exodus 25:22

Introduction

portrait
John Newton
1725–1807

Words: John New­ton, Ol­ney Hymns (Lon­don: W. Ol­iv­er, 1779), Book 3, num­ber 12. The ef­fort—in an­oth­er mea­sure.

Music: Bal­ler­ma Fran­çois H. Bar­thé­lé­mon (1741–1808), adapt­ed by Ro­bert Simp­son in A Se­lec­tion of Orig­in­al Sac­red Mu­sic, 1833 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tunes:

If you know where to get a good pic­ture of Simp­son (head-and-shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els), or a bet­ter one of Bar­thé­lé­mon,

portrait
François H. Barthélémon
1741–1808

Lyrics

Approach, my soul, the mercy seat,
Where Jesus answers prayer;
There humbly fall before His feet,
For none can perish there.

Thy promise is my only plea,
With this I venture nigh;
Thou callest burdened souls to Thee,
And such, O Lord, am I.

Bowed down beneath a load of sin,
By Satan sorely pressed,
By war without and fears within,
I come to Thee for rest.

Be Thou my shield and hiding place,
That, sheltered by Thy side,
I may my fierce accuser face,
And tell him Thou hast died!

O wondrous love! to bleed and die,
To bear the cross and shame,
That guilty sinners, such as I,
Might plead Thy gracious name.

Poor tempest tossèd soul, be still;
My promised grace receive
;
’Tis Jesus speaks—I must, I will,
I can, I do believe.