Sunday's Hymn: Reader's Choice

This week's hymn is chosen by Paula. When I wrote that last week's hymn was the last of the reader chosen hymns, I was wrong. I'd overlooked Paula's choice. Here's what Paula's chosen:

There Is A Fountain Filled With Blood
There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel's veins;
And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.
Lose all their guilty stains, lose all their guilty stains;
And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.

The dying thief rejoiced to see that fountain in his day;
And there have I, though vile as he, washed all my sins away.
Washed all my sins away, washed all my sins away;
And there have I, though vile as he, washed all my sins away.

Dear dying Lamb, Thy precious blood shall never lose its power
Till all the ransomed church of God be saved, to sin no more.
Be saved, to sin no more, be saved, to sin no more;
Till all the ransomed church of God be saved, to sin no more.

E'er since, by faith, I saw the stream Thy flowing wounds supply,
Redeeming love has been my theme, and shall be till I die.
And shall be till I die, and shall be till I die;
Redeeming love has been my theme, and shall be till I die.

Then in a nobler, sweeter song, I'll sing Thy power to save,
When this poor lisping, stammering tongue lies silent in the grave.
Lies silent in the grave, lies silent in the grave;
When this poor lisping, stammering tongue lies silent in the grave.

Lord, I believe Thou hast prepared, unworthy though I be,
For me a blood bought free reward, a golden harp for me!
'Tis strung and tuned for endless years, and formed by power divine,
To sound in God the Father's ears no other name but Thine.

This hymn was written by William Cowper, who co-wrote the Olney Hymns with John Newton. Cowper (pronounce it as if it were "Cooper") wrote this hymn after a bout of madness. During that time he tried to commit suicide, and this song comes out of his assurance that Christ's blood cleansed even that sort of sin. You can read the story here.

Listen:

Piano from The Bread Site.

Here's another piano version from Joe Garbarino of Broussard, Louisiana

Mandolin from Simple Gifts Mandolin Tablature Archive

This one is from the Choctaw Singers from Mississippi and Oklahoma

Like southern gospel quartets? Listen to The Anchormen of Fairhaven, Michigan sing a hymn.