Lord, I Approach Thy Mercy Seat

Lord, I approach, Thy mercy seat,
Where Thou dost answer prayer;
There humbly fall before Thy 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, my hiding Place,
That, sheltered near Thy side,
I may my fierce accuser face,
And tell him Thou hast died.

Author: John Newton

Year: 1779

This hymn is from Newton's Olney Hymns (1779), often paired with the tune 'St. Petersburg' or similar. No significant alternate attributions; it is a well-known work by the author of 'Amazing Grace'.