Just As I Am

George Beverly Shea tells a story in his book, How Sweet the Sound, of his experience with the hymn, "Just As I Am."

“When I was eighteen, my dad had a special week of evangelistic meetings with guest speakers at our church in Ottawa. Each night as the invitation was given to come forward for a public commitment to Christ, I could hardly wait to stand with the congregation and sing "Just As I Am." I could sing and comfort my heart, which was so convicted, rather than make that public confession. I was satisfied just to sing and not go forward.

“On Friday night of that week, Dad quietly left the platform and came to me. Placing his hand on my shoulder he said, ‘Tonight could be the night, Son.’ That was the night I made public my commitment to Christ.”

Charlottee Elliott, author of this hymn, was born in 1789 at Westfield Lodge in Brighton, England. Charlotte’s childhood was lived in a circle of great refinement and piety. She was highly educated, and she developed a great passion for music and art. At an early age, Charlotte began to be aware of her sinful nature and of her need to resist sin's enticements.

Charlotte felt unworthy of God's Grace while growing up and was incapable of facing a righteous and perfect God. She was continuously told by different pastors at the many churches she visited to pray more, study the Bible more and perform more noble deeds.

Charlotte was gifted as a portrait artist, and a writer of verse. In her early thirties she suffered a serious illness that left her weak and depressed. Because of her poor health, Charlotte had become rude and irritable. Her disability had hardened her. "If God loved me," she said. "He would not have treated me this way."

During her illness, a noted minister, Dr. Caesar Malan of Switzerland, came to visit her. Noticing her depression, he asked if she had peace with God. She resented the question and said she did not want to talk about it.

A few days later she apologized to Dr Malan. She told him she wanted to clean up some things in her life before becoming a Christian. Malan looked at her and answered, “Come just as you are.” That was enough for Charlotte Elliott, and she yielded herself to the Lord that day.

Fourteen years later, remembering those words spoken to her by Caesar Malan, she wrote this simple hymn that has been used to touch the hearts of millions who have also responded to Christ’s invitation to come just as they are.

Charlotte was a member of the Church of England. In later years, when she was not able to attend public worship, she wrote, "My Bible is my church. It is always open, and there is my High Priest ever waiting to receive me. There I have my confessional, my thanksgiving, my psalm of praise, and a congregation of whom the world is not worthy – prophets, and apostles, and martyrs, and confessors; in short, all I can want I find there." Charlotte died in 1871.

Composer William Bradbury was born in 1816 in York, Maine, where his father was the leader of a church choir. He had a brother, Edward Bradbury. He was raised on his father’s farm, with rainy days spent in a shoe shop, the custom in those days. He loved music.

Bradbury would spend his time studying and practicing such music as he could find. In 1830 his parents moved to Boston, where he saw and heard for the first time a piano and organ, as well as various other instruments. The effect lead him to devote his life to the service of music.

By 1834, Bradbury was known as an organist. In 1840, he began teaching in Brooklyn, New York. In 1847 he went to Germany, where he studied harmony, composition, and vocal and instrumental music with the best masters.

He attended Lowell Mason’s singing classes, and later was admitted into his celebrated Bowdoin Street church choir.

Mr. Bradbury was an excellent composer. His melodies have an easy, natural flow, and his harmonies are simple and natural. Many of his hymn-tunes and gospel songs, still in use, are among the best that American writers have produced. He was unceasingly active, having edited fifty-nine books of sacred and secular music, a large part of which were his own work.

In 1854, he started the Bradbury Piano Company, with his brother. Bradbury is best known as a composer and publisher of a series of musical collections for choirs and schools.

In 1862, Bradbury found the poem "Jesus Loves Me." He wrote the music and added the chorus: "Yes, Jesus loves me, Yes, Jesus Loves me ..."

He died on January 7, 1868, in New Jersey at age 51. He had a wife, four daughters and a son.

 Verse One

“Just as I am, without one plea,

But that Thy blood was shed for me,

And that Thou bidd’st me come to Thee,

O Lamb of God, I come! I come”

Matthew 11:28

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Biblehub.com, Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary: It becomes children to be grateful. When we come to God as a Father, we must remember that He is Lord of heaven and earth, which obliges us to come to Him with reverence as to the sovereign Lord of all; yet with confidence, as one able to defend us from evil, and to supply us with all good. Our blessed Lord added a remarkable declaration, that the Father had delivered into His hands all power, authority, and judgment. We are indebted to Christ for all the revelation we have of God the Father's will and love, ever since Adam sinned. 

Verse Two

“Just as I am, and waiting not,

To rid my soul of one dark blot,

To Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot,

O Lamb of God, I come! I come!”

Psalm 51:2

"Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.”

Enduringword.com, David Guzik: David knew that God’s cleansing was effective. His sin was a deep stain, but purity could be restored. We sense that David spoke with the voice of faith; it can be difficult for the convicted sinner to believe in such complete cleansing. It takes faith to believe God despite the doubt and difficulty . . . God could make him as if he had never sinned at all. Such is the power of the cleansing work of God upon the heart that he can restore innocence to us and make us as if we had never been stained with transgression at all.” (Spurgeon)

Verse Three

“Just as I am, tho’ tossed about,

With many a conflict, many a doubt,

Fightings within and fears without,

O Lamb of God, I come! I come!”

Micah 7:18

“Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.”

Blueletterbible.org, David Guzik: Who is a God like You? In light of the glorious restoration given by the LORD to Israel, Micah glorified the God of such great forgiveness, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage. Micah saw that God’s forgiveness was so great, that it can’t even be compared to what often passes for forgiveness among men . . . Why does God have such great mercy and forgiveness for His people? The reasons are in Him, not in His people. It is simply because He delights in mercy.

Verse Four

“Just as I am, poor wretched, blind;

Sight, riches, healing of the mind,

 Yea, all I need in Thee to find,

O Lamb of God, I come! I come!”

Revelation 3:17

“You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.”

Studylight.org, Bridgeway Bible Commentary: The Laodiceans not only thought they had all they needed, but they believed their prosperity had resulted from their spirituality. They were lacking in spirituality. Because of their reliance on material things, they could not exercise genuine faith in God. Nor could their lives witness the total satisfaction that Christ brings. Christ introduces Himself as the one who is faithful, the true witness, the creator with authority over all material things. He tells them plainly that He finds their comfortable spiritual pride repulsive. He urges them to see themselves as He sees them, spiritually poor, blind and naked. They must realize that Christ alone can produce truly spiritual qualities in their lives, and He can do this only when they turn from their sins and humbly seek His help.

Verse Five

“Just as I am, Thou wilt receive,

Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve,

Because Thy promise I believe,

O Lamb of God, I come! I come!”

Hebrews 10:23

“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.”

Studylight.org, Contending for the Faith: Man has not yet experienced the full blessings that come from being in fellowship with God. The greatest blessing is the heavenly home promised to those who remain faithful. Christians have an assured promise of reaching that home and living there in eternity based upon their faith and obedience to Jesus Christ. We have confidence in this promise because God who made it is faithful and will not lie.

Verse Six

“Just as I am, Thy love unknown,

Hath broken every barrier down;

Now to be Thine, yea, Thine alone,

O Lamb of God, I come! I come!”

Psalm 119:57-58

“You are my portion, O Lord, I have promised to obey your words. I have sought your face with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise.”

Enduringword.com, David Guzik: These are the words of a satisfied soul. The psalmist is satisfied with the portion received, and that portion is the LORD Himself . . . Spurgeon observed this was “…a broken sentence. The translators have mended it by insertions, but perhaps it would have been better to have left it alone, and then it would have appeared as an exclamation, – ‘My portion, O Lord!’ . . . The psalmist is saying that, like the Levites, he wants his portion of divine blessing to be God Himself since nothing is better and nothing else will ever fully satisfy his or anyone else’s heart. To possess God is truly to have everything."

Could it be that one little poem touched more lives than many sermons? It would not seem possible. But multiplication can be a miracle in God’s plan. After Charlotte’s death, at age 82, more than a thousand letters were discovered in her papers. They were from people around the world, expressing thankfulness that their lives had been redirected by this one hymn.

I am indebted to the following resources:

George Beverly Shea,

The Complete Book of Hymns, William J. Petersen and Ardythe Petersen

en.wikipedia.org

Hymnary.org

Hymnologyarchive.com; by J.H. Hall

Lucy Neeley Adams, 52 Hymn Story Devotions

By His Grace . . .

 

 

Be Thou My Vision

 

All of the stories I found online and in hymn devotionals attribute this hymn to the inspiration of a man who lived in AD 373. We celebrate his life every year in March. He is the only missionary who is honored with a global holiday. His name is St. Patrick, missionary to Ireland. This is his story.

He was born in Scotland along the banks of the River Clyde. His father was a deacon, and his grandfather was a priest. When Patrick was about 16, raiders descended on his little town and torched his home. When one of the pirates spotted him in the bushes, he was seized, hauled aboard ship, and taken to Ireland as a slave. It was there he gave his life to the Lord Jesus.

He later wrote, “The Lord opened my mind to an awareness of my unbelief, in order that I might remember my transgressions and turn with all my heart to the Lord, my God."

Patrick eventually escaped and returned home. His family was overjoyed and begged him to never leave again. But one night, in a dream reminiscent of Paul’s vision of the Macedonian Man in Acts 16, Patrick saw an Irishman pleading with him to come evangelize Ireland.

It wasn’t an easy decision, but Patrick, about 30, returned to his former captors with only one book, in his hand, the Latin Bible. Multitudes came to listen as he spread the gospel throughout the country. The superstitious Druids opposed him and sought his death. But his preaching was powerful, and Patrick became one of the most faithful evangelists of all time, planting about 200 churches and baptizing 100,000 converts.

On Easter Sunday in 433, the local Irish king issued a decree in observation of a pagan Druid festival that prohibited anyone from lighting a flame or candle. Patrick, refusing to honor anyone but Christ, stood against the king. That morning, Patrick risked his life by climbing to the tallest hill in the area and lighting a huge fire. As the ancient Irish people woke up, they could all see Patrick's defiance of the king. He could not hide his light. Patrick wanted to show the world that God’s light shines in darkness, and only He deserves praise.

Years later, an unknown composer wrote a melody in honor of Patrick's heroism. Called, "Slane," the now-forgotten composer named it after the hill where Patrick shined his light: Slane Hill.

Patrick’s word endured, and several centuries later, the Irish church was still producing hymns, prayers, sermons, and songs of worship. In the eighth century, an unknown poet wrote a prayer asking God to be his vision, his wisdom, and his best thought by day or night.

This original Old Irish text, Rop tú mo Baile, is often attributed to Dallan Forgaill, who was a descendant of the legendary High King, Colla Uais. He was acclaimed a saint in the early 11th century.

In 1905, Mary Elizabeth Byrne, who was a 25-year old university student, discovered the 14th century copy and translated it into English for the very first time. A scholar in Dublin, Ireland, she received her education from the Dominican Convent and the National University of Ireland. She was an Irish linguist, author, and journalist.

Later in 1912, an Irish woman named Eleanor Hull set the words to music. The melody she selected was none other than "Slane," the medieval tune written in honor of St. Patrick. The hymn became famous overnight and appeared in its first hymnal in 1919. In 2019, the world celebrated the 100th anniversary of the modern version of Be Thou My Vision.

Hull was born in Manchester, England. Her grandfather was a Protestant minister and poet. She was educated at home before attending college in Dublin. Ellen was an organist and held a number of positions during her life. They included editor, publisher and secretary of many different organizations.

This sung prayer is rich with imagery of a high view of Christ, the unequaled treasure of finding Him, and our total surrender to His Kingship. Verse one calls out to Him to be our “vision and best thought” above all else; Verse two expounds our wisdom and unity with the Triune God as His adopted sons; Verse three tells of the seeking of our inheritance and true treasure; and Verse four, praise to the High King who has won our victory.

It is one of our oldest and most moving hymns.

 Verse One

 “Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;

Nought be all else to me, save that Thou art,

Thou my best thought by day or by night;

Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.”

Colossians 3:1-2

“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”

Enduringword.com: The best Christian living comes from minds that are fixed on heaven. They realize that their lives are now hidden with Christ in God, and since Jesus is enthroned in heaven, their thoughts and hearts are connected to heaven also . . .The word “seek” marks aspiration, desire, and passion . . . In order to seek these things, the mind must be set on them.

Biblehub.com, Barnes’ Notes on the Bible: That is, seek them as the objects of pursuit and affection; strive to secure them . . . Christ is there, and since He is the object of our supreme attachment, we should fix our affections on heavenly things, and seek to be prepared to dwell with Him.

 Verse Two

“Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;

I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;

Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;

Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.”

2 Corinthians 6:18

“I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”

Biblehub.com, Barnes’ Notes on the Bible: A father is the protector, counselor, and guide of his children. He instructs them, provides for them, and counsels them in time of perplexity. No relation is more tender than this. In accordance with this, God says, that He will be to His people their protector, counsellor, guide, and friend. He will cherish toward them the feeling of a father; He will provide for them; He will acknowledge them as His children. No higher honor can be conferred on mortals than to be adopted into the family of God, and to be permitted to call the Most High our Father.

Verse Three

“Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,

Thou mine inheritance, now and always;

Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,

High King of heaven, my Treasure Thou art.”

1 Peter 1:3-5

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.”

Biblehub.com, Barnes’ Notes on the Bible: To an inheritance - Through the resurrection of the Lord Jesus we now cherish the hope of that future inheritance in heaven. Christians are regarded as the adopted children of God, and heaven is spoken of as their inheritance - as what their Father will bestow on them as the proof of His love . . . Incorruptible -- It will not fade away and vanish, as that which we inherit in this world does. The meaning here is, that the inheritance will be imperishable, or will endure forever. Here, to whatever we may be heirs, we must soon part with the inheritance; there it will be eternal.

Verse Four

“High King of heaven, my victory won,

May I reach heaven’s joy, O bright heaven’s Sun!

Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,

Still be my Vision, O ruler of all.”

1 Corinthians 15:57

“But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Biblehub.com, Barnes’ Notes on the Bible: We who are Christians; all Christians. The victory over sin and death. God alone is the author of this victory. He formed the plan; He executed it in the gift of His Son; and He gives it to us personally when we come to die.”

2 Corinthians 1:21-22

"Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set His seal of ownership on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.”

Biblehub.com, Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible: The Spirit of God is sent down “into our hearts” as a pledge where He dwells as in His temple, supplies us with all grace, witnesses to us our sonship, and assures us of the heavenly glory.”

Be Thou My Vision is the song of new life. It’s the song of the new life of St. Patrick, who shined his light for Christ. It’s the song of the new life in Ireland, where dead paganism gave way to centuries of vibrant faith. It’s the song of new life in the singer’s heart, where God shines His forgiveness in a sinful soul. And it is the song of new life for the hymn itself, which millions now enjoy again after centuries of obscurity.

 

I am indebted to the following resources:

Robert J. Morgan, Then Sings My Soul

BayviewbibleChurch.org, Pastor Stephens

TrinityBibleChurch.org

By His Grace . . .

Rejoice, Ye Pure In Heart

 

Edward Plumptre wrote this joyful hymn to be sung as a processional for the choirs as they walked the long aisle of the Peterborough Cathedral. The choir festivals involved churches through the diocese—a dozen or more choirs with scores of singers. These processionals could go on for as long as a half hour.

The cross and banner was held high at the beginning of the processional. The first verse of the hymn says, “your glorious banner wave on high” and “the cross of Christ your King.” The festivals were celebrated in one of England’s majestic places of worship, with stunning architecture, glorious medieval artwork, and fascinating history.

This is the atmosphere where Plumptre was raised and lived. He was born in 1821 to a London solicitor. He was educated at home, and after a brief stay at Kings College, in London, entered Oxford. He was a distinguished scholar of his day.

He was ordained and joined the staff at King’s College where he worked for twenty-one years. He was a chaplain and professor of pastoral theology. Plumptre took a leading part in promoting the higher education of women. He was also the dean of Wells Cathedral.

He was married to Harriet Theodosia, sister of John Maurice. Maurice was an English theologian and prolific author. For some years the influence of his brother-in-law was apparent in his religious views, but as he advanced in life, he identified himself with no party. Edward and Harriet had no children.

Plumptre was a Bible scholar and worked on a revision of the King James Version. He wrote this hymn at age 44, somewhere between “bright youth and snow-crowned age,” a line from the third verse. Perhaps his work as a college professor made him realize that it’s not the magnitude of one’s scholarship that matters, but the purity of one’s heart.

The music was composed by Arthur Messiter. He was educated by private tutors in England. He immigrated to the United States in 1863 and had an active musical career in Philadelphia, which included an organist position at St. James the Less.

At Trinity Church in New York City, he modeled with distinction the British cathedral tradition of music. Messiter was an editor of the Episcopal Hymnal, 1893, compiled the Psalter, 1889 and Choir Office Book, 1891 He wrote a musical history of Trinity Episcopal Church, New York, 1906.

Messiter added the refrain drawn from the first two lines of stanza one. The words echo Philippians 4:4: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.”

Plumptre wrote ten verses to this hymn, but most hymnals today include only four or five. In the hymn he calls upon the pure in heart to rejoice.  Who are the pure in heart? Deitrich Bonhoeffer answered this in "The Cost of Discipleship" by saying, "Only those who have surrendered their hearts completely to Jesus that He may reign in them alone. Only those whose hearts are undefiled by their own evil, and by their own virtues too". 

This is a joyous hymn from beginning to end, and it lifts our spirits to sing it.  Our rejoicing brings just a bit of heaven into our lives here on earth. 

Verse One

“Rejoice ye pure in heart;

  Rejoice, give thanks, and sing;

Your glorious banner wave on high,

The cross of Christ your King.”

Psalm 20:5

“May we shout for joy over your victory and lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the Lord grant all your requests.”

Biblehub.com, Barnes’ Notes on the Bible: All people, when they go to war, have standards or banners, whether flags or some other ensigns, around which they rally; which they follow; under which they fight; and which they feel bound to defend. 

Studylight.org, Calvin’s Commentary on the Bible: The faithful, in grateful acknowledgement of the grace of God, will celebrate His praises and triumph in His name.

 Verse Two

“Bright youth and snow-crowned age,

Strong men and maidens fair,

Raise high your free, exalting song,

God’s wondrous praise declare.”

Psalm 33:1

“Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise Him.”

Studylight.org, Clarke’s Commentary: We have an account of the happiness of the justified man; in this, such are taught how to glorify God, and to praise Him for the great things He had done for them . . . It is right they should give thanks to Him, who is the fountain whence they have received all the good they possess, and thankfulness becomes the lips of the upright.

 Studylight.org, Bridgeway Bible Commentary: Above all, God is worthy of people’s praise because of the salvation He gives to those who fear Him. He gives them life, protection and provision. All who humbly trust in His mercy will find that their lives develop new qualities of patience, confidence and joy.

 Verse Three

“Yes, on through life's long path,

Still chanting as ye go;

From youth to age, by night and day,

In gladness and in woe.”

Psalm 119:105

“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”

Biblehub.com, Barnes’ Notes on the Bible: It is a light which shines on the road that a man treads, so that he may see the path, and that he may see any danger which may be in his path. The expression is very beautiful and is full of instruction. He who makes the Word of God his guide, and marks its teachings, is in the right way. He will clearly see the path. He will be able to mark the road in which he ought to go, and to avoid all those by-paths which would lead him astray . . . Man needs such a guide, and the Bible is such a guide.

 Biblehub.com, Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary: The word of God directs us in our work and way, and a dark place indeed the world would be without it. The commandment is a lamp kept burning with the oil of the Spirit, as a light to direct us in the choice of our way, and the steps we take in that way.

 Verse Four

“Still lift your standard high,

Still march in firm array,

As warriors through the darkness toil,

Till dawns the golden day.”

1 Corinthians 16:13

“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.”

 Biblehub.com, Barnes’ Notes on the Bible: The exhortation in this and the following verse is given evidently in view of the special dangers and temptations which surrounded them . . . They were to watch lest their souls should be ruined, and their salvation endangered; lest the enemies of the truth and of holiness should steal silently upon them and surprise them. They were to watch with the same vigilance that is required of a sentinel who guards a camp, lest an enemy should come suddenly upon them, and surprise the camp when the army was locked in sleep.

 Refrain

“Rejoice, rejoice,

Rejoice give thanks and sing.”

We can rejoice; we should rejoice. Always rejoice.

Age is listed twice in verse two and verse three: “Bright youth and snow-crowned age” and “from youth to age.” In Barnes’ Notes on the Bible it says:

 The care of God for his people surpasses that of the most tender parent, and the kindest nourisher of the young. They need the care of God no less than childhood does; and if they have walked in His ways in the vigor and strength of their life, He will not cast them off when they are old and gray-headed.

 Isaiah 46:4 says: “Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He, I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.”

 In Gill’s Exposition of the Whole Bible, he says: The eternal and unchangeable Jehovah; the same in His love and affections; in His sympathy and care; in His power and protection; in His promises, truth, and faithfulness to His people, in their last days, as at the first moment of their conversion; and therefore, they are safe.

 We have no need to worry whether God will take care of us until our days are over. He is with us now and will be with us until we die and go to our eternal home.

  

I am indebted to the following resources:

Sermonwriter.com

Umcdiscipleship.org, Dr. Hawn

En.wikipedia.org

Hymnary.org

Epiphanyhappens.com

Barryshymns.blogspot.com

By His Grace . . .

Jesus Paid It All

There is little known about the life of Elvina Mable Hall. Her fame is attributed to how and when she wrote, “Jesus Paid It All.” Hall composed the words while at church sitting in the choir loft.

It happened on a warm summer day in Baltimore, 1865. Initially, there was nothing special about that day for Hall. It was just another Sunday for her to sing in the choir at Monument Methodist Episcopal Church. She began thinking of the cross, and the sacrifice Jesus made for the world. As Reverend Schrick went into a rather wordy prayer, Hall began writing a poem. Not having any paper, she wrote the words inside the cover of the hymnal.

Hall composed four stanzas and then gave a copy to Pastor Schrick.

As it turned out, another church member had presented a creative work of their own to the reverend earlier that week. The other member was John Grape, and he was the organist at the church. Grape had written a tune for a hymn yet had no lyrics for it.

Stepping into his study, the pastor laid Mrs. Hall’s poem next to the lines of music from Mr. Grape. He was surprised to see they fit one another like hand in glove. “Indeed, God works in mysterious ways!” he thought. The meter of the text and tune were agreeable, except that Grape’s tune had a refrain. Hall then added the words of the refrain to fit, and the hymn was complete. The words and tune have been partners ever since.

Schrick suggested they submit “Jesus Paid It All” to Professor Theodore Perkins, a publisher of Sabbath Carols. Perkins eagerly published the hymn, and soon the world was introduced to the timeless classic that is still being sung today.

Elvina Mable Hall was born 1822 and died in 1889. She married Richard Hall of Virginia. They had at least three children together that lived to adulthood, Agnes, Asenath, and Ella. Two children died as infants.

Hall was a 40-year member of the church in Baltimore and a member of the choir. After her husband’s death, she married The Reverand Thomas Meyers, a Methodist pastor in the Baltimore Conference.

John T. Grape was born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1835 and died in 1915. He was a successful coal merchant and member of the Monument Street Methodist Episcopal Church in Baltimore. He also played the organ, directed the choir, and was active in Sunday School. He later directed the choir at the Hartford Avenue Methodist Church.

The title of the hymn, "Jesus Paid It All," harkens to the ultimate sacrifice made by Jesus through his crucifixion. Hall, inspired by her gratitude for our salvation through Jesus, wrote this hymn as a reminder of the price He paid to resolve us of our sins.

The four stanzas speak of our human weakness and failure, our need for salvation and the power and grace we receive through Jesus Christ. The refrain centers on the debt we owe to God as a result of our sin and the fact that that debt was paid through Jesus' death on the cross.

Stanza One: Jesus says that we are weak and through watching and prayer, we will find all that we need.

Stanza Two: It is in Jesus that we find the power to change our lives and our hearts.

Stanza Three: We are meritless to claim God's grace. It is Jesus' shed blood that saves us.

Stanza Four: When we are finally judged by God, we shall proclaim our salvation through Jesus' death.

Refrain: The debt of our sin was paid by Jesus.

Through the song, we confess our inability to save ourselves, and our utter dependence on what Christ accomplished on the cross.

 Verse One 

“I hear the Savior say,

Thy strength indeed is small;

Child of weakness, watch and pray,

Find in Me thine all in all.”

Romans 5:6

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.” 

Studylight.org, Clarke’s Commentary: The apostle, having pointed out the glorious state of the believing Gentiles, takes occasion to contrast this with their former state; and the means by which they were redeemed from it . . . without strength . . . ungodly . . . sinners . . . enemies of God.

Studylight.org, Barnes’ Notes on the Whole Bible: Here it means that we were without strength . . . we had no power to devise a scheme of justification, to make an atonement, or to put away the wrath of God . . .  While all hope of man’s being saved by any plan of his own was thus taken away; while he was thus lying exposed to divine justice, and dependent on the mere mercy of God, God provided a plan which met the case and secured his salvation.

 Verse Two

“Lord, now indeed I find

Thy power, and Thine alone,

Can change the leper’s spots

And melt the heart of stone.”

Ezekiel 36:26

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.”

Studylight.org, Gill’s Exposition of the Whole Bible: “Heart of stone": this is a heart hardened by sin, and confirmed in it; destitute of spiritual life and motion; senseless and stupid, stubborn and inflexible . . . but by the powerful and efficacious grace of God; giving repentance unto life; working faith in the soul, to look to a crucified Christ; and shedding abroad the love of God in the heart, which softens and melts it, all which is done by the Spirit, and frequently by means of the word . . . “A new heart” and a “new spirit” are one and the same; that is a renewed one; renewed by the Spirit and grace of God; in which a new principle of life is put; new light is infused; a new will, filled with new purposes and resolutions; where new affections are placed, and new desires are formed; and where there are new delights and joys, as well as new sorrows and troubles; the same which in the New Testament is called the “new man.”

Verse Three

“For nothing good have I

Whereby Thy grace to claim;

I’ll wash my garments white

In the blood of Calvary’s Lamb.”

Titus 3:5

“He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.”

Studylight.org, Commentaries on the Bible: God's unmerited grace is the source of all salvation, and all the good works of a hundred lifetimes could never earn or merit the saving grace of God.

Studylight.org, Barnes’ Notes on the Whole Bible: The plan was not based on our own good works, nor are our own good works now the cause of our salvation. If people could have been saved by their own good works, there would have been no need of salvation by the Redeemer; if our own deeds were now the basis of our title to eternal life, the work of Christ would be equally unnecessary. It is a great and fundamental principle of the gospel that the good works of men come in for no share in the justification of the soul.

Studylight.org, Contending for the faith: It is utterly impossible for anyone, regardless of how devout, to live a completely righteous life on his own strength. Even Paul, who tried so hard, admitted he failed. No one can be saved on the merits of his own righteousness. Salvation is the result of God’s grace and love.

 Verse Four

“And when before the throne

I stand in Him complete,

Jesus died my soul to save,

My lips shall still repeat.”

Psalm 86:12

“I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever.”

Biblehub.com, Barnes’ Notes on the Bible: And I will glorify thy name forevermore - Not merely in the present emergency; but I will do it ever onward - even to eternity. The meaning is, that he would in all cases, and at all times - in this world and in the world to come - honor God. He would acknowledge no God but Him, and he would honor Him as God.

Refrain

“Jesus paid it all,

All to Him I owe;

Sin had left a crimson stain,

He washed it white as snow.”

Snow. Pure white. Pristine. Without blemish. Beautiful. Sparkling. Spotless. That’s what God did for us. He made us beautiful in His sight. “He washed us white as snow.” We were stained. He made us clean.

This is the gospel of grace--that God, in love, did for us what we could not do for ourselves—Jesus paid it all.

 

I am indebted to the following resources:

UMCdiscipleship.org

IndependentBaptist.com

Godtube.com

Hymncharts.com

By His Grace . . .