Come, My Soul, Thy Suit Prepare
Lord's Day Hymn #015
Come, My Soul, Thy Suit Prepare
by John Newton (1725-1807)
Come, my soul, thy suit prepare,
Jesus loves to answer prayer;
He Himself has bid thee pray,
Therefore will not say thee nay.
Thou art coming to a King,
Large petitions with thee bring;
For His grace and power are such,
None can ever ask too much.
With my burden I begin:
Lord, remove this load of sin;
Let Thy blood, for sinners spilt,
Set my conscience free from guilt.
Lord, I come to Thee for rest,
Take possession of my breast;
There Thy blood-bought right maintain,
And without a rival reign.
While I am a pilgrim here,
Let Thy love my spirit cheer;
As my guide, my guard, my friend,
Lead me to my journey’s end.
Show me what I have to do,
Every hour my strength renew;
Let me live a life of faith,
Let me die Thy people’s death.
History
"Come, My Soul, Thy Suit Prepare" was written by John Newton (1725–1807), the former slave trader turned Anglican minister and renowned hymn writer. Newton, best known for his hymn "Amazing Grace", penned this hymn in the late 18th century as part of his efforts to inspire a deeper, more personal approach to prayer among his congregation. It was included in his 1779 hymnal Olney Hymns, co-authored with William Cowper, which sought to provide rich, theologically sound hymns for the church. Newton's own life experiences—marked by his dramatic conversion and dependence on God’s grace—deeply informed the hymn's themes of bold, reverent prayer and trust in the sufficiency of Christ.
Explanation
The hymn is a heartfelt meditation on the privilege of prayer and the boundless grace of God. Newton uses the imagery of approaching a king to encourage believers to pray boldly, bringing their "large petitions" to a God whose power and love are limitless. It emphasizes humility, confessing personal sin and seeking rest in Christ’s redeeming work. Each verse reflects aspects of the believer’s journey: acknowledging sin, surrendering to Christ’s rule, seeking daily renewal, and anticipating the joy of eternal life. The hymn’s pastoral tone urges believers to come to God in faith, trusting His willingness to hear and answer their prayers according to His perfect will.