Scripture Verse

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

Introduction

portrait
John Newton (1725–1807)

Words: An al­tered ver­sion of Ap­proach, My Soul, the Mer­cy Seat, by John New­ton, Ol­ney Hymns (Lon­don: W. Ol­iv­er, 1779).

Music: Bur­ford, in the Book of Psal­mo­dy, by John Che­tham, 1718 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Lyrics

Lord, I approach, Thy mercy seat,
Where Thou dost answer prayer;
There humbly fall before Thy 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, my hiding place,
That, sheltered near Thy side,
I may my fierce accuser face,
And tell him Thou hast died.