Depth of Mercy

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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. I my Master have denied, I afresh have crucified, oft profaned his hallowed name, put him to an open shame.

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.

5. Now incline me to repent, let me now my sins lament, now my foul revolt deplore, weep, believe, and sin no more.

Words by: Charles Wesley
Music by: Adapt. from Orlando Gibbons

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Story of the hymn Depth of Mercy

Origin and Background

Charles Wesley first published it in 1740 in Hymns and Sacred Poems, originally with 13 stanzas of four lines each. It was headed "After a Relapse into Sin" (sometimes categorized under themes like "Desiring Mercy and Pardon" or "For Believers Convinced of Backsliding").

The hymn is deeply personal and penitential. It expresses remorse over repeated sin, provoking God, denying Christ, and "crucifying Him afresh" (echoing Hebrews 6:6), while marveling at God's unfathomable mercy. Many see it as reflecting Wesley's own struggles or those common among early Methodists during the Evangelical Revival in 18th-century England. It was later shortened and adapted (often to about 6 stanzas of 8 lines) in the 1780 Wesleyan Hymn Book and other collections.

The hymn remains a powerful expression of contrition, God's mercy, and restoration. It has been set to various tunes over the years (e.g., associated with composers like Leighton G. Hayne, Carl Maria von Weber, or others). Modern adaptations exist as well. It fits well in services on repentance, Lent, or personal renewal.

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