Scripture Verse

Lord, I believe; help Thou mine unbelief. Mark 9:24

Introduction

portrait
Isaac Watts
1674–1748

Words: Is­aac Watts, Hymns and Spi­ri­tu­al Songs 1707–09, Book 2, num­ber 90. Faith in Christ for par­don and sanc­ti­fi­ca­tion.

Music: South­well (Ir­ons) Her­bert S. Irons, 1861 (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Irons (head-and-shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Anecdote

On July 19, 1738, Charles Wes­ley and his friends sang this hymn with the crim­in­als on their way to Ty­burn. The po­et found that hour un­der the gal­lows the most bless­ed hour of his life.

Nutter, p. 143

Lyrics

How sad our state by nature is!
Our sin, how deep it stains!
And Satan binds our captive souls
Fast in his slavish chains.

But hark! a voice of sovereign grace
Sounds from the sacred Word;
Ho, ye despairing sinners, come,
And trust upon the Lord!

My soul obeys the Almighty’s call,
And runs to this relief;
I would believe Thy promise, Lord;
O help my unbelief!

To the blest fountain of Thy blood,
Incarnate God, I fly;
Here let me wash my spotted soul
From sins of deepest dye.

Stretch out Thine arm, victorious King,
My reigning sins subdue,
Drive the old Dragon from his seat,
With all his hellish crew.

A guilty, weak, and helpless worm,
Into Thy hands I fall;
Be Thou my strength and righteousness,
My Savior, and my all.