Approach, My Soul, the Mercy Seat
- Text:
- John Newton
- Music:
- Kevin Twit
Chorus: Approach, my soul, the mercy seat,
Where Jesus answers prayer;
There humbly fall before His feet,
For none can perish there.
1. Thy promise is my only plea,
With this I venture nigh;
Thou callest burdened souls to Thee
And such, O Lord, am I.
2. Bowed down beneath a load of sin,
By Satan sorely pressed,
By wars without and fears within,
I come to Thee for rest.
3. Be Thou my shield and hiding place,
That, sheltered near Thy side,
I may my fierce accuser face,
And tell him Thou hast died!
4. O wondrous love! To bleed and die,
To bear the cross and shame,
That guilty sinners, such as I,
Might plead Thy gracious name!
Additional Verse courtesy of Michael Lyman
5. Poor tempest-toss-ed soul, be still;
My promised grace receive;
Ill work in thee both power and will;
Thou shalt in me believe.
©1998 Kevin Twit Music (ASCAP).Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Reflection
Martin Luther once said "You should tell the devil: Just by telling me that I am a miserable, great sinner, you are placing a sword and weapon into my hand with which I can decisively overcome you; yea, with your own weapon I can kill and floor you. For if you can tell me that I am a poor sinner, I, on the other hand, can tell you that Christ died for sinners and is their Intercessor ... You remind me of the boundless, great faithfulness and benefaction of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The burden of my sins and all the trouble and misery that were to oppress me eternally He very gladly took upon His shoulders and suffered the bitter death on the cross for them. To Him I direct you. You may accuse and condemn Him. Let me rest in peace; for on His shoulders, not on mine, lie all my sins and the sins of all the world." That is the heart of this hymn!
