I know of no other hymn writer who could express the remorse and terror of our own sinfulness than Charles Wesley. This powerful song is a cry to the God who has graciously saved us even when we shook our fist in His face and scorned His law for our own. Those whom God is pleased to save know this guilt, this cry of the penitent sinner in Luke 18:13: “God, be merciful to me, the sinner!”. Like this man, we can humbly ask, “Can there be mercy still reserved for me?”. Our joy as Christians is rooted in the fact that we know the answer to this question – YES!
LyricsVerse 1:
Depth of mercy, can there be
Mercy still reserved for me?
Can my God His wrath forbear?
Me, the chief of sinners, spare?
I have long withstood His grace,
Long provoked Him to His face;
Would not hearken to His calls:
Grieved Him by a thousand falls.
Chorus:
Depth of mercy, can there be
Mercy still reserved for me?
Bow Your ear, in mercy bow;
Pardon and accept me now.
Verse 2:
There for me the Savior stands,
Shows His wounds and spreads His hands;
God is love, I know, I feel,
Jesus pleads, and loves me still.
Why to me this waste of love?
Ask my Advocate above.
See the cause in Jesus' face,
Now before the throne of grace.
Verse 3:
If I rightly read Your heart,
If You all compassion art,
Bow Your ear, in mercy bow;
Pardon and accept me now.
Now incline me to repent;
Let me now my fall lament:
Now my foul revolt deplore;
Weep, believe, and sin no more.
Words by Charles Wesley (1707-88). Music by David L. Ward.
© 1999 HymnicityCCLI Song #4256780
Depth of mercy, can there be
Mercy still reserved for me?
Can my God His wrath forbear?
Me, the chief of sinners, spare?
I have long withstood His grace,
Long provoked Him to His face;
Would not hearken to His calls:
Grieved Him by a thousand falls.
Chorus:
Depth of mercy, can there be
Mercy still reserved for me?
Bow Your ear, in mercy bow;
Pardon and accept me now.
Verse 2:
There for me the Savior stands,
Shows His wounds and spreads His hands;
God is love, I know, I feel,
Jesus pleads, and loves me still.
Why to me this waste of love?
Ask my Advocate above.
See the cause in Jesus' face,
Now before the throne of grace.
Verse 3:
If I rightly read Your heart,
If You all compassion art,
Bow Your ear, in mercy bow;
Pardon and accept me now.
Now incline me to repent;
Let me now my fall lament:
Now my foul revolt deplore;
Weep, believe, and sin no more.
Words by Charles Wesley (1707-88). Music by David L. Ward.
© 1999 Hymnicity
© 1999 Hymnicity
CCLI Song #4256780