Hymns

Day 8 – At Cavalry

William R. Newell is credited with this wonderful hymn! We sing this song frequently at our church. I love the words – they do so reflect what is in my heart! William was born on May 22, 1868, in Savannah, Ohio and passed away on April 1, 1956, in DeLand, Florida. He became assistant superintendent at Moody Bible Institute in 1895 and was also credited with Bible commentaries on Romans, Hebrews, and the Book of Revelation.

It is so obvious that William experienced a true born-again conversion. He intimately knew what the Saviour went through for him to be saved and it was obvious that he loved to write about it.

At Calvary
William R. Newell

Years I spent in vanity and pride,
Caring not my Lord was crucified,
Knowing not it was for me He died on Calvary.

Refrain

Mercy there was great, and grace was free;
Pardon there was multiplied to me;
There my burdened soul found liberty at Calvary.

By God’s Word at last my sin I learned;
Then I trembled at the law I’d spurned,
Till my guilty soul imploring turned to Calvary.

Refrain

Now I’ve given to Jesus everything,
Now I gladly own Him as my King,
Now my raptured soul can only sing of Calvary!

Refrain

Oh, the love that drew salvation’s plan!
Oh, the grace that brought it down to man!
Oh, the mighty gulf that God did span at Calvary!

Refrain

As I read the words to this hymn, verse after Bible verse popped into my head! I’m excited to share my thoughts with you:

Years I spent in vanity and pride: I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit. (Ecc 1:14) and Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. (Pro 16:18 )

Caring not my Lord was crucified: The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts. (Psa 10:4)

Knowing not it was for me He died on Calvary: And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. (Luk 23:33)

Mercy there was great, and grace was free: The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. (Psa 145:8 ) and Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: (Rom 3:24)

Pardon there was multiplied to me: For thy name’s sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great. (Psa 25:11)

There my burdened soul found liberty at Calvary: For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. (Rom 8:2)

By God’s Word at last my sin I learned: Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. (Psa 119:11) and So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Rom 10:17)

Then I trembled at the law I’d spurned: My flesh trembleth for fear of thee; and I am afraid of thy judgments. (Psa 119:120)

Till my guilty soul imploring turned to Calvary: Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. (Rom 3:19)

Now I’ve given to Jesus everything: Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Mat 11:28 )

Now I gladly own Him as my King: And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. (Rev 15:3)

Now my raptured soul can only sing of Calvary! Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. (Heb 2:12)

Oh, the love that drew salvation’s plan! For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (Joh 3:16)

Oh, the grace that brought it down to man! For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (Eph 2:8 )

Oh, the mighty gulf that God did span at Calvary! And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. (Luk 16:26)

Praise the Lord for the words in this hymn! How can you walk away from singing this and have a burdened heart or a heavy spirit?