Mercy, O Thou Son of David

Representative Text

1 “Mercy, O Thou Son of David,”
Thus poor blind Bartimeus prayed,
“Others by Thy Word are saved,
Now to me afford Thine aid.”

2 Many for his crying chid him,
But he called the louder still,
Till the gracious Savior bid him,
“Come and ask me what you will.”

Source: The Sacred Harp: the best collection of sacred songs, hymns, odes, and anthems ever offered the singing public for general use (1991 rev.) #52b

Author: John Newton

John Newton (b. London, England, 1725; d. London, 1807) was born into a Christian home, but his godly mother died when he was seven, and he joined his father at sea when he was eleven. His licentious and tumul­tuous sailing life included a flogging for attempted desertion from the Royal Navy and captivity by a slave trader in West Africa. After his escape he himself became the captain of a slave ship. Several factors contributed to Newton's conversion: a near-drowning in 1748, the piety of his friend Mary Catlett, (whom he married in 1750), and his reading of Thomas à Kempis' Imitation of Christ. In 1754 he gave up the slave trade and, in association with William Wilberforce, eventually became an ardent abolitionist. After becoming a tide… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Mercy, O Thou Son of David
Author: John Newton
Meter: 8.7.8.7
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Tune

BARTIMAEUS (Jenks)


CHARLESTOWN


RESTORATION (Southern Harmony)

ARISE is an anonymous American folk melody. Set to "Mercy, O Thou Son of David," the tune was published in William Walker's (PHH 44) Southern Harmony (1835) with the title RESTORATION. Its name was changed to ARISE (after the refrain in the ballad about the prodigal son) when it was set to Hart's te…

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Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 5 of 5)
TextAudio

The Cyber Hymnal #11245

The Sacred Harp #52b

Text

The Sacred Harp #52b

Text

The Sacred Harp #56b

The Sacred Harp #458

Include 236 pre-1979 instances
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