Music for the Soul "The Penitent's Plea" (Brian Davies & Graham Sapwell) with Lyrics

Music for the Soul #21 – “The Penitent's Plea”
(Words & Music: Herbert Booth)

Music is the language of the soul, it has a unique and special ability to connect directly to the soul to bring joy, soothe sorrows, relieve stress and stir the emotions.

This song, written by Herbert Booth (youngest son of the Founder) in November 1889, is the song that gave a young Brian Davies understanding of how music could be used by God to speak to the soul. After the verses had been written, Herbert had the melody of the chorus playing over and over in his head but no words. He called upon Richard Slater and as he played the tune on the organ words began to form…. “Blood to wash my every sin away”, then, as the tune went on….. “Power to keep me spotless day by day” and, with a feeling of triumph… “For me, for me!” “And thus this wonderful chorus grew and went forth from the darkness of that November night to carry light and hope and warmth, with soul comfort to tens of thousands.”

Brian’s Testimony - “Growing up, our family (Dad-Fred, Howard, Aunty Phyllis and I) were often invited as musical guests to other corps. On one occasion, just after being enrolled at the age of 14 (1952), we were guests at the congress in Sydney. During the prayer meeting at the Holiness meeting in the Sydney Town Hall it was suggested that I play something and my father selected “The Penitent’s Plea”. As I played a young man came forward and knelt at the mercy seat along with many others and it was at that moment I understood how God could use the talents he had given me for His purposes.

Fast forward about 35 years (circa. 1987); I had been the bandmaster at Camberwell Corps for close to 20 years and we were visiting Dulwich Hill Corps in Sydney for a band weekend. At the corps tea, between the afternoon festival and Salvation Meeting, an elderly lady thrust a small piece of paper into my hand asking if I could play one of these two songs in the wind up (a small segment of requests played after the prayer meeting). When the time came I looked at the note and “Grace there is my every debt to pay” jumped out at me as I recalled that moment years ago. By way of introduction I shared the significance of this song to me and of a young man who was moved by it so long ago. As the band played an older man came forward alone and knelt at the mercy seat. Afterwards, he told me that he was that same man who had come forward all those years ago. Coincidence?….certainly not. His mother, a retired colonel, also spoke to me telling me of her earnest prayers for him every day over these years.”

We are blessed in The Army to share in such music, and to use our talents to bring souls to the throne of grace.

1. Saviour, hear me while before Thy feet
I the record of my sins repeat.
Stained with guilt, myself abhorring,
Filled with grief, my soul outpouring;
Canst Thou still in mercy think of me,
Stoop to set my shackled spirit free,
Raise my sinking heart and bid me be
Thy child once more?

Grace there is my every debt to pay,
Blood to wash my every sin away,
Power to keep me spotless day by day,
For me, for me!

2. All the memories of deeds gone by
Rise within me and Thy power defy;
With a deathly chill ensnaring,
They would leave my soul despairing.
Saviour, take my hand, I cannot tell
How to stem the tides that round me swell,
How to ease my conscience, or to quell
My flaming heart.

3. Yet why should I fear? Hast Thou not died
That no seeking soul should be denied?
To that heart, its sins confessing,
Canst Thou fail to give a blessing?
By the love and pity Thou hast shown,
By the blood that did for me atone,
Boldly will I kneel before Thy throne,
A pleading soul.

4. All the rivers of Thy grace I claim,
Over every promise write my name;
As I am I come, believing,
As Thou art Thou dost, receiving,
Bid me rise a free and pardoned slave,
Master o'er my sin, the world, the grave,
Charging me to preach Thy power to save
To sin bound souls.

Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)