The Cyber Hymnal ‎#211

211. Approach, My Soul, the Mercy Seat

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

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

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

4. Be Thou my Shield and hiding Place,
That, sheltered by Thy side,
I may my fierce accuser face,
And tell him Thou hast died!

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

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

Text Information

• First Line: Approach, my soul, the mercy seat
• Title: Approach, My Soul, the Mercy Seat
• Author: John Newton (1779)
• Meter: CM
• Language: English
• Source: Olney Hymns (London: W. Oliver, 1779), number 12
• Copyright: Public domain
• Notes: Alternate tunes: DALEHURST, Arthur Cottman, 1874; KENT, Samuel Stanley, in Twenty-Four Tunes in Four Parts, circa 1800; ST PANTELEJMON, Henry T. Smart (1813-1879; ST. PETER (REINAGLE), Alexander R. Reinagle, 1836

Tune Information

• Name: BALLERMA
• Composer: François Hippolyte Barthélémon, 1741-1808
• Adapter: Robert Simpson (1833)
• Meter: CM
• Incipit: 13216 56113 23532
• Key: A♭ Major
• Source: Adaptation in A Selection of Original Sacred Music, 1833
• Copyright: Public domain