{"id":87,"date":"2006-03-20T16:50:00","date_gmt":"2006-03-20T20:50:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/rayvanneste.com\/?p=87"},"modified":"2013-07-03T11:11:19","modified_gmt":"2013-07-03T15:11:19","slug":"%e2%80%9cgrace-all-conquering-and-charming%e2%80%9d","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/rayvanneste.com\/?p=87","title":{"rendered":"“Grace, All-conquering and charming”\u009d"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>
\nJesse Mercer could be described as the leading Baptist in Georgia in the first half of the 19th century. He served as pastor, editor of the state paper, and denominational statesman championing the formation of schools and a mission board. Anthony Chute has written a fine overview of Mercer’s work in A Piety Above the Common Standard<\/em><\/a>\"\". You can see my review of Chute’s book here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

My point here, however, is to highlight his work in poetry, writing and compiling hymns. Mercer produced a popular compilation of American and British hymns entitled The Cluster of Spiritual Songs, Divine Hymns, and Sacred Poems<\/em>. The following hymn is #5 in the cluster, and I have recorded (from when I borrowed a copy of the Cluster) that Mercer was the author of this hymn.<\/p>\n

“Grace, All-conquering and charming”\u009d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Legion was my name by nature,
\nSatan raged within my breast;
\nNever misery was greater,
\nNever sinner more posses’d.
\nMischievous to all around me,
\nTo myself the greatest foe;
\nThus I was, when Jesus found me,
\nFilled with madness, sin, and woe.<\/p>\n

Yet in this forlorn condition,
\nWhen he came to set me free,
\nI reply’d to my Physician,
\n“What have I to do with thee?”\u009d
\nBut he would not be prevented,
\nRescued me against my will;
\nHad he staid till I’d consented,
\nI had been a captive still.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Jesse Mercer could be described as the leading Baptist in Georgia in the first half of the 19th century. He served as pastor, editor of the state paper, and denominational statesman championing the formation of schools and a mission board. Anthony Chute has written a fine overview of Mercer’s work in A Piety Above the …<\/p>\n

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