To make Robinson’s circumstances much more difficult, his
maternal grandfather, Robert Wilkin, a wealthy man, who had never reconciled
himself to his daughter’s lowly marriage, disinherited his grandson and
provided an inheritance for him of only ten shillings and sixpence.
In 18th century England, there was little in the way of a
social welfare system, and this meant that he had to go to work while very
young. Robinson’s uncle, a farmer, had sponsored Robinson’s attendance at a
school in Scarning, Norfolk, under Rev. Joseph Brett. When he was
fourteen, Robinson was sent to London as apprentice to Joseph Anderson, a
hairdresser.
However, his knowledge was varied and extensive because he
spent many hours in study. There was an adult-like quality deeply ingrained in
him, and it allowed him to accept the responsibilities of adulthood, even as a
teenager.
Without a father, though, to guide and steady him, Robert
fell in with bad companions. At the age of seventeen he ran the streets of
London in gangs, caring not for anything spiritual.
One day his gang of rowdies harassed a drunken gypsy.
Pouring liquor into her, they demanded she tell their fortunes for free.
Pointing her finger at Robert, she told him he would live to see his children
and grandchildren. This struck a tender spot in his heart. “If I’m going to
live to see my children and grandchildren,” he thought, “I’ll have to change my
way of living. I can’t keep on like I’m going now.”
A few nights later, Robinson, half serious and half in fun,
decided to go to a tent meeting to hear the Methodist preacher, George
Whitefield. He suggested that the boys go with him and heckle the gathering. “Let’s
go laugh at the deluded Methodists” was his invitation to his gang.
Whitefield preached on the text: “O generation of vipers,
who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” Matthew 3:7. Robert left
in dread, under a deep sense that George Whitefield was preaching to him alone.
Apparently, that was the planting of the seeds that would
change his life. Another three years would pass before he accepted Christ into
his heart, on December 10. 1755. Robinson found what he described as “full and
free forgiveness through the precious blood of Jesus Christ.” The
transformation was profound. The once-rowdy youth now burned with a desire to
know and serve God. He traveled across England, soaking in the words of the
finest gospel preachers of his day.
It was in this period of spiritual fervor, at the young age
of 22, that Robinson penned the words that would touch hearts for centuries to
come.
After accepting Christ, Robinson felt the call and entered
the ministry, teaching himself. He served Calvinist Methodist Chapel, Norfolk,
England and a Baptist church in Cambridge, England. He wrote various hymns and
theological books during his career.
Robert’s spiritual path took many turns. He moved between
denominations, serving as a Methodist preacher, then working with Independents,
before settling for nearly thirty years as a Baptist pastor.
At one time His faith wavered, and he grappled with periods of instability and doubt. A story is told that Robinson wandered away from God. "In a spiritually backslidden condition, Robert was traveling in a stagecoach one day. His only companion was a young woman unknown to him. In the providence of God, and not realizing who it was she spoke with, the woman quoted 'Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing,' saying what an encouragement it had been to her.
"Try as he might, Robinson could not get her to change the subject. She asked him what he thought of the hymn she was humming. He responded, 'Madam, I am the poor, unhappy man who wrote that hymn many years ago, and I would give a thousand worlds, if I had them, to enjoy the feelings I had then.' Gently, she replied, 'Sir, the ‘streams of mercy’ are still flowing.' He was deeply touched by that. As a result of the encounter he repented. His fellowship with the Lord was restored through the ministry of his own hymn, and a Christian’s willing witness."
Whether or not that stagecoach encounter truly happened, it encapsulates the enduring power of “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing.” The hymn speaks to the universal Christian experience of joy in salvation, coupled with the ongoing struggle against our sinful nature.
Robert Robinson’s life – from wayward youth to celebrated
preacher, from devoted believer to doubtful wanderer – is a reminder of the
very truths he penned. His words continue to resound in churches around the
world, a reminder that no matter how far we stray, the Fount of every blessing
calls us back.
Studylight.org, Barnes’ Notes on the Whole Bible: Heaven is represented as a magnificent city where God and angels dwelt; and the Christian revelation discloses this to Christians as certainly their final home. They should regard themselves already as dwellers in that city, and live and act as if they saw its splendor and partook of its joy . . . It is true that Christians have not yet seen that city by the physical eye, but they look to it with the eye of faith. It is revealed to them; they are permitted by anticipation to contemplate its glories, and to feel that it is to be their eternal home. They are permitted to live and act as if they saw the glorious God whose dwelling is there and were already surrounded by the angels and the redeemed. The apostle does not represent them as if they were expecting that it would be visibly set up on the earth, but as being now actually dwellers in that city, and bound to live and act as if they were amidst its splendors.
Biblehub.com, Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary: The well-spring of wisdom in the heart of a believer, continually supplies words of wisdom . . . The Divine power, made known in and through our Lord Jesus Christ, forms a strong tower for the believer, who relies on the Lord.
Studylight.org, Gill’s Exposition of the Whole Bible: And Samuel took a stone, and set it, not for worship, but as a monument of the victory obtained by the help of God: and this he placed between Mizpeh and Shen; which latter signifies a tooth, and designs the precipice of a rock which juts out, and hangs over in the form of one: and called the name of it Ebenezer; which signifies "the stone of help"; and is the same place which by anticipation has this name, so that in the selfsame place where the Israelites were twice beaten by the Philistines, and the ark taken, was this salvation wrought for them.
Enduringword.com, David Guzik: Solomon wisely told his son to keep God’s loyal love and truth close. They should be so close that it would be as if they were a necklace on him at all times (bind them around your neck) and written on the tablet of your heart . . . “Striking expressions for glorying in, meditating on and acting by these principles.” (Kidner) “By ‘binding’ and ‘writing’ the teacher is stressing that the teachings become a part of the disciple’s nature.” (Ross)
