How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds

How sweet the Name of Jesus sounds
In a believer’s ear! 
It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds, 
And drives away his fear. 

It makes the wounded spirit whole, 
And calms the troubled breast; 
'Tis manna to the hungry soul, 
And to the weary, rest. 

Dear Name, the Rock on which I build, 
My Shield and Hiding Place, 
My never failing treasury, filled 
With boundless stores of grace! 

By Thee my prayers acceptance gain, 
Although with sin defiled; 
Satan accuses me in vain, 
And I am owned a child. 

Jesus! my Shepherd, Husband, Friend, 
My Prophet, Priest and King, 
My Lord, my Life, my Way, my End, 
Accept the praise I bring. 

Weak is the effort of my heart, 
And cold my warmest thought; 
But when I see Thee as Thou art, 
I’ll praise Thee as I ought. 

Till then I would Thy love proclaim 
With every fleeting breath, 
And may the music of Thy Name 
Refresh my soul in death!

--John Newton, 1779

Approach, my soul, the mercy seat

Approach, my soul, the mercy seat,

Where Jesus answers prayer;

There humbly fall before His feet,

For none can perish there.

Thy promise is my only plea,

With this I venture nigh;

Thou callest burdened souls to Thee,

And such, O Lord, am I.

Bowed down beneath a load of sin,

By Satan sorely pressed,

By war without and fears within,

I come to Thee for rest.

Be Thou my Shield and hiding Place,

That, sheltered by Thy side,

I may my fierce accuser face,

And tell him Thou hast died!

O wondrous love! to bleed and die,

To bear the cross and shame,

That guilty sinners, such as I,

Might plead Thy gracious Name.

“Poor tempest-tossèd soul, be still;

My promised grace receive”;

’Tis Jesus speaks—I must, I will,

I can, I do believe.

Words: John New­ton, Ol­ney Hymns (Lon­don: W. Ol­iv­er, 1779).