Charles Wesley was possibly the most prolific hymn writer that ever lived. It is estimated that he wrote more than 6500 hymns. He was born In Epworth, Lincolnshire (UK) . Along side his brother, John, Charles was used mightily by God during the 18th century ‘Great Evangelical Awaking’.
The story is told that George Whitefield was once preaching in Nottingham, at the market cross. A churchman had ridden from Ilkeston to hear Whitefield. At that moment the preacher was reading the first verse of this hymn and when the third line was read the churchman fell under conviction. and was brought to Christ, all of his family followed him in receiving Christ.
1.
All ye that pass by,
To Jesus draw nigh:
To you is it nothing that Jesus should die?
Your ransom and peace,
Your surety He is;
Come, see if there ever was sorrow like His.
2.
For what you have done
His blood must atone:
The Father hath punished for you His dear Son.
The Lord in His day
Of His anger, did lay
Your sins on the Lamb, and He bore them away.
3.
He answered for all:
O come at His call,
And low at His cross with astonishment fall!
But lift up your eyes
At Jesus’s cries
Impassive, He suffers; immortal, He dies.
4.
He dies to atone
For sins not His own;
Your debt He hath paid, and your work He hath done.
You all may receive
The peace He did leave,
Who made intercession, “My Father, forgive!”
5.
For you and for me
He prayed on the tree:
The prayer is accepted, the sinner is free.
That sinner am I,
Who on Jesus rely,
And come for the pardon God cannot deny.
6.
My pardon I claim;
For a sinner I am,
A sinner believing in Jesus’s name.
He purchased the grace
Which now I embrace;
O Father, Thou know’st He hath died in my place.
7.
His death my plea;
My Advocate see,
And hear the blood speak that has answered for me.
Acquitted was I*
When He bled on the cross;
And by loosing His life He hath carried my cause.
* modern hymnals have: My ransom He was
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