Scripture Verse

Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Psalm 51:7

Introduction

portrait
William G. Fischer (1835–1912)

Words: James L. Ni­chol­son, in Joy­ful Songs No. 4 (Phi­la­del­phia, Penn­syl­van­ia: Me­tho­dist Epis­co­pal Book Room, 1872).

Music: Will­iam G. Fis­cher (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tune:

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Ni­chol­son (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Introduction

In the spring of 1893, re­lates the Rev. Mr. Brad­ley, a Me­tho­dist min­is­ter in Utah, a la­dy who had come from Ire­land as a Mor­mon im­mi­grant sev­er­al years be­fore was brought un­der ve­ry pun­gent con­vict­ion of sin, which last­ed for sev­er­al days. She at­tend­ed our ser­vic­es sev­er­al times, but seemed to get no re­lief.

On the fo­llow­ing Mon­day morn­ing, while she was about her work as usu­al, the bur­den had be­come al­most un­bear­able. As she worked she be­gan to sing, Lord Je­sus, I long to be per­fect­ly whole; and when she came to the clos­ing words, To those who sought Thee, Thou ne­ver saidst No, a feel­ing came ov­er her like a flash, she says, that He would not say No to her.

From that mo­ment the bur­den was lift­ed and she was filled with joy.

Sankey, p. 306

Lyrics

Lord Je­sus, I long
To be per­fect­ly whole;
I want Thee for­ev­er
To live in my soul.
Break down ev­ery id­ol,
Cast out ev­ery foe;
Now wash me, and I
Shall be whit­er than snow.

Refrain

Whiter than snow,
Yes, whit­er than snow.
Now wash me, and I
Shall be whit­er than snow.

Lord Je­sus, let no­thing
Unholy re­main,
Apply Thine own blood
And ex­tract ev­ery stain;
To get this blest cleans­ing,
I all things fore­go—
Now wash me, and I
Shall be whit­er than snow.

Refrain

Lord Je­sus, look down
From Thy throne in the skies,
And help me to make
A com­plete sac­ri­fice.
I give up my­self,
And what­ev­er I know,
Now wash me, and I
Shall be whit­er than snow.

Refrain

Lord Je­sus, for this
I most hum­bly en­treat,
I wait, bless­èd Lord,
At Thy cru­ci­fied feet.
By faith, for my cleans­ing,
I see Thy blood flow,
Now wash me, and I
Shall be whit­er than snow.

Refrain

Lord Je­sus, Thou seest
I pa­tient­ly wait,
Come now, and with­in me
A new heart cre­ate;
To those who have sought Thee,
Thou ne­ver saidst No,
Now wash me, and I
Shall be whit­er than snow.

Refrain

The bless­ing by faith,
I re­ceive from above;
O glo­ry! my soul
Is made per­fect in love;
My pray­er has pre­vailed,
And this mo­ment I know,
The blood is ap­plied,
I am whit­er than snow.

Refrain