1 At the door of mercy sighing
With the burden of my sin,
Day and night my soul is crying,
“Open, Lord, and let me in.”
Waiting ‘mid the darkness dreary,
Stretching out my hands to Thee,
In the refuge for the weary
Is there not a place for me?
2 I have sought to earn Thy favour,
Caring not for toil or cost,
Yet I find not Him my Saviour,
He who came to seek the lost.
“Blessed Master! in Thy pity
Teach me what I ought to do,
So that in the holy city
I may gain an entrance too.”
3 Hark! what sounds mine ear receiveth,
Sweet as songs of seraphim!
“He that in the Lord believeth
Life eternal hath in him.”
At the outer door why staying?
Nothing, soul! hast thou to pay:
Christ in love to thee is saying,
Weary child, come in today.
4 I knew not of Jesus’ kindness!
I knew not of Jesus’ grace!
O the blackness of the blindness
That could not behold His face!
I saw not the door was open,
Nor my Lord invite me in:
Grace is mine beyond my hoping,
Mercy mightier than my sin.
Source: The Helper in Sacred Song: for Sunday-schools, churches, and devotional services #11
Mackellar, Thomas, was born in New York, Aug. 12, 1812. At the age of 14 he entered the printing establishment of Harper Brothers. In 1833 he removed to Philadelphia and joined the type-foundry firm of Johnson & Smith, as proof reader. He subsequently became a foreman, and then a partner in that firm, which has been known from 1860 as Mackellar, Smiths, and Jordan, type-founders of Philadelphia. His publications include The American Printer, 1866, a prose work, and the following in verse:—
(1) Droppings from the Heart, 1844; (2) Tam's Fortnight Ramble, 1847; (3) Lines for the Gentle and Loving, 1853; (4) Rhymes Atween Times, 1872. The last contains some of his hymns. (5) Hymns and a few Metrical Psalms, Phila. 1883 (71 hymns, 3 psalms… Go to person page >
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