Almost a century ago, in the year 1836, a young girl, Miss Charlotte Elliott, was preparing for a great ball, to be given in her native town. Full of gay anticipation, she started out one day to her dressmaker to have a fine dress fitted for the occasion. On her way she met her pastor, an earnest, faithful man, and in the greetings which passed between them he learned her errand. He reasoned and expostulated, and finally pleaded with her to stay away from the ball. Greatly vexed, she answered: “I wish you would mind your own business!” and went her way.
In due time the ball came off; and this young girl was the gayest of the gay. She was flattered and caressed; but after dancing all night, laying her weary head on her pillow only with returning day, she was far from happy. In all this pleasure there had been a thorn, and now conscience made her wretched. Her pastor had always been a loving, cherished friend, and her rudeness to him rankled in her breast. More than all, the truth of his words came to her heart and would give no rest. After three days of misery, during which life became almost insupportable, she went to the minister with her trouble, saying: “For three days I have been the most wretched girl in the world, and now I want to be a Christian! What must I do?”
We need not be told that the minister freely forgave her for her rudeness to himself, nor that he joyfully directed her to the true source of peace. “Just give yourself, my child, to the Lamb of God, just as you are.”
This was a new Gospel to her; she had never comprehended it before.
“What! Just as I am?” she asked. “Do you know that I am one of the worst sinners in the world? How can God accept me just as I am?”
“That is exactly what you must believe,” was the answer. “You must come to Him just as you are.” The young girl felt overpowered as the simple truth took possession of her mind. She went to her room, knelt down, and offered God her heart, guilty and vile as it was, to be cleansed and made fit for His dwelling, As she knelt, peace—full, overflowing—filled her soul. Inspired by the new and rapturous experience, she then and there wrote the hymn, so familiar to generations of Christians for almost a hundred years.
Just as I am—without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bidst me come to Thee:
O Lamb of God, I come!
Just as I am—and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot,
To Thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot:
O Lamb of God, I come!
Just as I am—poor, wretched, blind,
Sight, riches, healing of the mind,
Yea, all I need in Thee to find:
O Lamb of God. I come!
Just as I am—Thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
Because Thy promise I believe:
O Lamb of God, I come!
Just as I am—Thy love, I own,
Has broken every barrier down;
Now to be Thine, yea, Thine alone,
O Lamb of God, I come!
Little did Charlotte Elliott think of the fame or the blessedness of the words she had written; it was simply putting her heart on paper; and therefore the hymn, born of her experience, appeals to other hearts needing the cleansing power of the blood of the Lamb.