1
Years I spent in vanity and pride,
Caring not my Lord was crucified,
Knowing not it was for me He died
On Calvary.
Caring not my Lord was crucified,
Knowing not it was for me He died
On Calvary.
Mercy there was great, and grace was free;
Pardon there was multiplied to me;
There my burdened soul found liberty,
At Calvary.
Pardon there was multiplied to me;
There my burdened soul found liberty,
At Calvary.
2
By God's Word at last my sin I learned;
Then I trembled at the law I'd spurned,
Till my guilty soul imploring turned
To Calvary.
Then I trembled at the law I'd spurned,
Till my guilty soul imploring turned
To Calvary.
3
Now I've giv'n to Jesus everything,
Now I gladly own Him as my King,
Now my raptured soul can only sing
Of Calvary.
Now I gladly own Him as my King,
Now my raptured soul can only sing
Of Calvary.
4
Oh, the love that drew salvation's plan!
Oh, the grace that brought it down to man!
Oh, the mighty gulf that God did span
At Calvary!
Oh, the grace that brought it down to man!
Oh, the mighty gulf that God did span
At Calvary!
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Mansfield, Ohio, United States
This brother had a very deep experience and revelation concerning the cross at Calvary. I could not find any other hymns written by William Newell. I still like to research the biography of these obscure authors. Little is known of this man, it seems he was an Ohio native. It is interesting to see how many of these scholars were influenced by The Moody Bible Institute.
Biography:
William was the son of David Ayers Newell and Elizabeth Reed, and husband of Mellicent Woodworth.
He graduated from Wooster College, Ohio, in 1891, then attended Princeton and Oberlin Seminaries.
After ordination, he became pastor of Bethesda Congregational Church in Chicago, Illinois. In 1895, he became assistant superintendent of the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago.
Newell was known for his Biblical commentaries on Romans, Hebrews, and the Book of Revelation.
He moved to Leesburg, Florida, in 1910, and for some time was pastor of the Presbyterian church there.
Seymour, Indiana, United States
I have had this song in my head since we sang it at church last week. I keep coming back to three words, grace was free.
Purcellville, Virginia, United States
I woke up this morning with these lyrics in my head. I was thinking about the words ‘there my burdened soul found liberty’ and how many people I pray would find that truth. What beautiful words are here.
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
I Praise God for you and for making this song available --- to everyone.
I pray that God will continue to use you to feel the earth with the Knowledge of His Glory as waters cover the Sea.
Love you God bless you.
Our Lord reigns.
Jesus is Lord.
Indpls, IN, United States
Just writing in my journal this morning and wrote something about his mercy and grace. Immediately I flashed back to “mercy there was great and Grace was free pardon there was multiplied to me…” the words of the first stanza and much of the other stanzas came rushing back to me after decades (I am in my 60s now) of not singing it. I see the value in all forms of Christian music and have been touched by all genres, but this flashback to my childhood with the exact memory of the lyrics was incredible. I also realized how easy it is to sing, even hymns, without thinking about what the actual words mean, but just focusing on singing the parts (if you are musically inclined), or possibly just the melody line if you’re not. It wasn’t until my 20s That at one moment, I fullyrealized the importance of the lyrics! It happened when I looked back at another old hymn called “Am I a soldier of the cross? “
Bellflower, CA, United States
All I know is when God is, God does! A childhood hymn that has made the difference today.
Lebak, Sultan Kudarat, Philippines
My childhood song in CAMACOP. We always singing hymnal songs up until now. I’m 27.
Kampala, Uganda
I discovered this in 2025, just one week before Easter day. Thank God I can now sing all the words while I play the piano correctly
Youngstown, OH, United States
What a wonderful, timeless hymn!! Thank You Jesus!! You died for ME!!
General Santos City, Philippines
Thank you JESUS for saving me from the bondage of sin