CHRISTIAN LIFE >> FAITH & TRUST
SDAH 521
Depth of mercy!–can there be
Mercy still reserved for me?
Can my God His wrath forbear?
Me, the chief of sinners, spare?
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For Worship Leaders
Make each hymn more meaningful with these helpful tools: Short, ready-to-use hymn introductions for church bulletins, multiple ways to introduce a hymn based on your worship theme and in-depth history and insights to enrich your song service.
Hymn Spotlight: Depth of Mercy
Charles Wesley wrote this deeply personal hymn in 1740 as part of a set titled “After a Relapse Into Sin,” identifying with Paul’s confession in 1 Timothy 1:15: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.” Originally consisting of thirteen four-line stanzas, the hymn pours out a repentant heart marveling at God’s patience, compassion, and pardoning grace. Its tune, ALETTA—composed by William Batchelder Bradbury in 1857—features simple, prayerful lines shaped by repeated phrases, sturdy tonic–dominant harmony, and a gentle modulation that lifts the melody. Named after the devout mother of Bernard of Clairvaux, the tune complements Wesley’s earnest plea, inviting every weary sinner to trust that God’s mercy is deeper than our failings and always reaches toward us in love.
📖 Reference: Feel free to share but please cite hymnsforworship.org when reproducing.
Introductions for Sabbath School Song Service (based on specific lesson quarterlies):
Charles Wesley (1707-1788; see Biographies) wrote two hymns under the title “After a Relapse Into Sin.” This one, of 13 stanzas of four lines each, appeared in his Hymns and Sacred Poems, 1740. The other, of 10 stanzas of four lines each, was printed in 1742. Wesley identifies himself with the apostle Paul’s self-description, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief” (1 Tim. 1:15).
ALETTA was composed in 1857 by William Batchelder Bradbury (1816-1868; see Biographies) and appeared in The Jubilee, set to a six-line hymn with the last two lines repeating. The first, second, and fourth revised phrases are very similar and the tune makes liberal use of tonic and dominant chords, although it is made more interesting by one modulation. Aletta was a pious woman, the mother of Bernard of Clairvaux (see SDAH 242).
📖 Reference: Companion to the Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal by Wayne Hooper and Edward E. White. Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1988.
Text
1
Depth of mercy!–can there be
Mercy still reserved for me?
Can my God His wrath forbear?
Me, the chief of sinners, spare?
2
I have long withstood His grace,
Long provoked Him to His face,
Would not hearken to His calls,
Grieved Him by a thousand falls.
3
Now incline me to repent;
Let me now my sins lament;
Now my foul revolt deplore,
Weep, believe, and sin no more.
4
There for me the Savior stands,
Shows His wounds and spreads His hands;
God is love! I know, I feel;
Jesus weeps, and loves me still.
Hymn Info
Biblical Reference
(a) 1 Tim 1:15 (b) Acts 11:17 (c) Rom 2:4; John 8:11 (d) John 20:27
Author
Charles Wesley (1707-1788)
Year Published
1740
Hymn Tune
ALETTA
Metrical Number
7.7.7.7.
Composer
William B. Bradbury (1816-1868)
Year Composed
1857
Theme
FAITH AND TRUST
Recommended Reading
Charles was the other Wesley. Alongside his brother John who was considered the main guy behind the founding of Methodism, it was Charles’ hymns that pushed through the envelope of being “just another religion.” His lasting and well-known hymns have captivated Christians all around the world. Through his poetic lines, we are able to sing many hymns with such deep theology.
It was said that he wrote 8,989 hymns. That’s 10 lines of poetry every single day for 50 years. And we are privileged to have sung some of those hymns. Tell me, don’t these hymns ring a bell for you?
