Just as I Am (hymn)

"Just as I Am" is a well-known hymn, written by Charlotte Elliott in 1835, first appearing in the "Christian Remembrancer", of which Elliott became the editor in 1836. The final verse is taken from Elliott's "Hours of Sor­row Cheered and Com­fort­ed" (1836). [cite web|url=http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/j/u/justasam.htm|title=Just as I Am, Without One Plea|publisher=cyberhymnal.org]

It has been set to at least three hymn tunes:
* The original, "Woodworth", was written by William B. Bradbury, and was first published in the "Third Book of Psalmody" in 1849.
* "Hymns Ancient and Modern" (1875) contained a setting "Misericordia" by Henry T. Smart.
* In 1890 Arthur H. Brown wrote "Saffron Walden" which was published in "The Hymnal Companion".

In the latter half of the twentieth century the hymn was popularized as an altar call song in the Billy Graham crusades. Graham used the title of the hymn as the title of his 1997 autobiography (ISBN 0-06-063387-5).

History

Charlotte Elliot wrote this song about how to find salvation through Christ. It has been used by many as the call to the altar at the close of services, as it brings a quiet simple message of sin, forgiveness, and salvation to all that listen.

An elderly man asked Charlotte Elliott if she were a Christian; she felt insulted, and told him to mind his own affairs. But after the man left, she could not get the question off her mind, and she went back to ask the man how to find Christ. He told her to come just as she was. She did, and wrote the beautiful song, "Just As I Am." - By B. A. Scherr

Text

1.
Just as I am, without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bidd'st me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

2.
Just as I am, and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot,
To Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

3.
Just as I am, tho' tossed about
With many a conflict, many a doubt,
Fightings and fears within, without,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

4.
Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind-
Sight, riches, healing of the mind,
Yea, all I need in Thee to find-
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

5.
Just as I am, Thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve,
Because Thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come! I come!

Source: Signs of the Times, Copyright (c) July 26, 1942, Pacific Press.

Other sources are different [Hymns Old & New, New Anglican Edition 1986 and 1996] [Hymns Ancient and Modern 1906 Edition] : Each verse ends only with a single "I come." (otherwise the hymns would not scan), omit verse 2 above and add two additional verses:Just as I am, thy love unknownHas broken ev'ry barrier down,Now to be thine, yea thine alone,O Lamb of God, I come.

Just as I am, of that free loveThe breadth, length, depth and height to prove,Here for a season, then above,O Lamb of God, I come.

Recordings

This song appears on the following albums:
* "Traveling Mercies" by Chris Potter on bass clarinet
* "Red Headed Stranger" by Willie Nelson

References

External links

* Saffron Walden hymn tune http://www.cyberhymnal.org/mid/s/a/f/saffron_walden.mid