At Calvary – testimony of a wayward son
Dr R.A. Torrey was the first superintendent of Moody
Bible Institute in Chicago for a number of years. While serving in that capacity, he received a
letter from a very concerned pastor. This
pastor told him of a troubled son of his that was causing problems in his
family and pleaded with Dr Torrey to allow him to Moody Bible Institute. Torrey replied that he was leading a Bible College,
not a reform school. The father continued
to plead with Torrey, however, and Torrey finally consented provided the boy
meet with him every day and that he follow the rules of the Institute.
To Torrey’s surprise, the boy latched on to him and
scrupulously followed the rules and found great fruit with his daily meetings
with Torrey. After many meetings, the
boy, named William Newell, found answers to the questions that had been
plaguing him for years and received Christ, answering the fervent prayers of
his father.
Newell became a minister, and later returned to Moody
Bible Institute as a professor. He
authored a number of Bible commentaries, including a very famous verse-by-verse
commentary on Romans. He often said that,
had he not gone through the years of difficulty, he would not know God’s grace
as intimately as he did.
One day in 1895, he was reflecting on his life during
some free time prior to class and penned a poem on the back of an envelope
reflecting his testimony. As he hurried
to his lecture, he handed the envelope to Dr Daniel Towner, head of the music
ministry for the university, for his evaluation. By the time the lecture was over, Dr Towner
had completed the tune and the men sang it together. Dr Towner told him, “Bill, I think this may
be the best song we have ever written in our lifetime.”
Years I spent in vanity and pride, Caring not my Lord was
crucified;
Knowing not it was for me He did at Calvary.
Mercy was there was great, and grace was free.
Pardon there was multiplied to me.
There my burdened soul found liberty, at Calvary!
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.
Now, I’ve gi’en to Jesus everything; Now I gladly own Him
as my King;
Now my raptured soul can only sing, of Calvary!
O, the love that drew salvation’s plan; O, the grace that
brought it down to man;
O, the mighty gulf that God did span, at Calvary!
Then Sings My Soul, Morgan, Robert J., Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2003.
