Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing is a Christian hymn written by Robert Robinson in 1758 when he was just 22 years old.
The hymn is a prayer asking God to guide the heart and keep it faithful. It includes the famous phrase “Here I raise mine Ebenezer,” referencing 1 Samuel 7:12 as a symbol of God’s help.
Set to the tune “Nettleton,” the hymn remains a favorite in many churches for its honest and heartfelt lyrics. Its themes of grace, gratitude, and spiritual renewal have made it a lasting part of Christian worship.
About the Author
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Birth Year | 1735 |
| Death Year | 1790 |
Robert Robinson was born in Swaffham, Norfolk. His father died when he was only eight years old, leaving the family in financial difficulties.
Robert was sent to London to apprentice with a barber, but his real interest lay in religious and intellectual pursuits. He was converted under the preaching of George Whitefield in 1752.
Soon after, he began studying and eventually became a Baptist pastor. He served as a minister in several places, including Cambridge, where he gained a reputation as an eloquent preacher and hymn writer.
His hymns, deeply rooted in his Christian faith, have been cherished for their sincerity and rich religious insight.
One of his most famous hymns, “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing,” written in 1758, tells about his passionate love for Christ and his heartfelt prayers for grace.
This hymn, like many of his other works, is known for its poetic beauty, religious depth, and enduring appeal.
About the Alterer
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Birth Year | 1726 |
| Death Year | 1790 |
Martin Madan was born in London. He studied at Westminster School and later attended Christ Church, Oxford, where he initially pursued a career in law.
After experiencing a spiritual awakening under the preaching of John Wesley, Madan decided to enter the ministry.
He was ordained in 1748 and soon became a well-known editor and arranger of hymns.
Madan’s strong musical and literary interests led him to compile the influential hymn collection, Psalms and Hymns (1760), which introduced several hymns that became widely popular.
Madan is often remembered for his role in altering and popularizing hymns, including “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing.”
Although not the original author, his revisions significantly contributed to shaping the hymn’s enduring form, thereby ensuring its place in the hearts of countless worshippers.
Representative Text
Come, thou Fount of every blessing;
tune my heart to sing thy grace;
streams of mercy, never ceasing,
call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
sung by flaming tongues above;
praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it,
mount of God’s unchanging love!
Here I raise my Ebenezer;
hither by thy help I’m come;
and I hope, by thy good pleasure,
safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
wandering from the fold of God;
he, to rescue me from danger,
interposed his precious blood.
O to grace how great a debtor
daily I’m constrained to be!
Let that grace now, like a fetter,
bind my wandering heart to thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
prone to leave the God I love;
here’s my heart; O take and seal it;
seal it for thy courts above.
Chords of Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing
