Come Thou Fount…the story behind
We will be singing this grand Hymn in our worship service this Sunday. We are starting a new series called “Intervention” (the story of Jonah) I love reading the stories behind some of these great songs of old!
Robert Robinson was born, Norfolk, England, on September 27, 1735. His father died when Robert was only eight. At fourteen he was sent by his mother to London to learn the barbering trade and find a better life. While he was in London however, he became associated with a notorious gang of “hoodlums and had lived a morally corrupt life”. One day, Robinson together with his gang went to a meeting where George Whitefield was preaching. At first, they were there for the purpose of “scoffing at the poor, deluded Methodists…” …but God intervened and had a different plan and Robinson converted to Christ that day. Years after, he sensed that God’s calling him to preach and enter the ministry. After some time, he left for Cambridge and became a Baptist pastor and an able theologian. He had many theological works and wrote several hymns.
“Come, Thou Fount” was written by Robinson when he was 23 years old. An expression in the third verse, “prone to wander-Lord, I feel it-Prone to leave the God I love,” seems to have been prophetic of Robinson’s later years, as once again his life became characterized by lapses into sin, unstableness. Robinson had many personal struggles and his demons of the past had taken hold of his life once again.
… Robinson was one day riding a stagecoach one day when he noticed a woman deeply engrossed with a hymn book. During an ensuing conversation the lady turned to Robinson and asked what he thought of the hymn she was humming. Robinson burst into tears and said, “Madam, I am the poor unhappy man who wrote that hymn many years ago, and I would give a thousand worlds, if I had them, to enjoy the feelings I had then.” Once again God intervenes in to our world to remind us of His Grace Mercy and Forgiveness!
“I was lost in utter darkness ‘Til You came and rescued me
I was bound by all my sin when Your love came and set me free
Now my soul can sing a new song Now my heart has found a home
Now Your grace is always with me And I’ll never be alone.”
follow me!