1. Years I spent in vanity and pride, Caring not my Lord was crucified, Knowing not it was for me He died On Calvary. 2. By God's Word at last my I learned; Then I trembled at the law I'd spurned, Till my guilty soul imploring turned To Calvary. 3. Now I've giv'n to Jesus ev'rything, Now I gladly own Him as my King, Now my raptured soul can only sing Of Calvary. 4. 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. Chorus: Mercy there was great, and grace was free; Pardon there was multiplied to me; There my burdened soul found liberty At Calvary.
Lyrics: William Reed Newell
Music:
Daniel Brink Towner
Tune: CALVARY
Meter: 9.9.9.4. with Refrain
William R. Newell, 1868–1956
William R. Newell was a noted evangelist, Bible teacher, and later assistant superintendent at the Moody Bible Institute. One day on his way to teach a class, he was meditating about Christ’s suffering at Calvary and all that it meant to him as a lost sinner. These thoughts so impressed themselves on his mind that he stepped into an empty classroom and quickly scribbled down the lines of this hymn on the back of an envelope. A few minutes later he met his friend and colleague, Daniel B. Towner, music director at the institute, and showed him the text he had just written, suggesting that Towner try composing music for it. An hour later as Newell returned from class, Dr. Towner presented him with the melody and they sang their completed hymn together. This song was first published in 1895.