I Stand At Mercy's Door

Representative Text

1 I stand at mercy’s door,
O Lord, look on me now,
A beggar knocks, exceeding poor,
And none can help but Thou.

2 Through sin, born dark I was,
Nor cared for the light,
All knowledge of Thy truth and grace,
Was banished from my sight.

3 Exceeding lame beside,
A cripple from my birth,
And need a crutch, as well a guide,
To help my ankles forth.

4 A ragged soul I am,
My breast and shoulders bare,
And nothing left to hide my shame,
But fig leaves here and there.

5 With sore disease I smart,
From pain am seldom free,
It is the evil in my heart,
My father gave it me.

6 Lord, I have told my case,
Well known to Thee before,
Let Jesus show His lovely face,
And heal up every sore.

7 Mine eyes with salve anoint,
That I may see Thy light;
And strengthen every tottering joint,
That I may walk upright.

8 My naked soul array
In Thy own righteousness;
And let Thy precious blood convey
The pledge of heav’nly peace.

9 My evil, Thou dost know,
Torments my bosom much,
But let the King of Israel show,
He cures it with a touch.

10 Some manna also bring
To feast my pilgrim days,
And Thou shalt hear a beggar sing,
And shout forth Jesus’ praise.

Source: The Cyber Hymnal #13711

Author: John Berridge

Berridge, John, born at Kingston, Notis, March 1, 1716, and educated at Clare Hall, Cambridge. In 1749 he was ordained as curate to the parish of Stapleford, near Cambridge, and in 1755 he was preferred to the Vicarage of Everton, where he died Jan. 22, 1793. His epitaph, written by himself for his own tombstone (with date of death filled in), is an epitome of his life. It reads:— " Here lies the remains of John Berridge, late Vicar of Everton, and an itinerate servant of Jesus Christ, who loved his Master and His work; and after running on His errands for many years, was caught up to wait on Him above. Reader! art thou born again? (No salvation without a new birth.) I was born in sin, February, 1716; remained ignorant of my fallen sta… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: I stand at mercy’s door
Title: I Stand At Mercy's Door
Author: John Berridge
Meter: 6.6.8.6
Source: Sion's Songs (London: Vallance & Conder, 1785)
Language: English
Notes: Alternate tunes: SCHUMANN from "Cantica Laudis," SOUTHWELL by William Daman, ST. BRIDE by Samuel Howard
Copyright: Public Domain

Tune

TRENTHAM

Robert Jackson (b, Oldham, Lancashire, England, 1842; d. Oldham, 1914) originally, composed TRENTHAM as a setting for Henry W. Baker's "O Perfect Life of Love" (380). Named for a village in Staffordshire, England, close to the town in which Jackson was born, the tune was published with the Baker tex…

Go to tune page >


Media

The Cyber Hymnal #13711
  • PDF (PDF)
  • Noteworthy Composer Score (NWC)

Instances

Instances (1 - 1 of 1)
TextScoreAudio

The Cyber Hymnal #13711

Suggestions or corrections? Contact us