The 1950's style and modesty

 (taken by me on one of my walks)

 

Miss Charlotte Elliott (born March 18 1789) was visiting some friends in the West End of Lon­don, and there met the eminent minister, Cesar Malan. Whilst seated at supper, the minister said he hoped that she was a Christian. She took offense at this, and replied that she would rather not discuss that question. Dr. Malan said that he was sorry if had offended her, that he always liked to speak a word for his Master, and that he hoped that the young lady would some day become a worker for Christ.

When they met again at the home of a mutual friend, three weeks later, Miss Elliott told the minister that ever since he had spoken to her she had been trying to find her Saviour, and that she now wished him to tell her how to come to Christ - “Just come to him as you are,” Dr. Malan said. This she did, and went away rejoicing. Shortly afterward she wrote this hymn (1835).

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, 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, I come.

Just as I am, though tossed about


With many a conflict, many a doubt,


Fightings and fears within, without,


O Lamb of God, I come, 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, 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, I come.

Just as I am, Thy love unknown


Hath broken every barrier down;


Now, to be Thine, yea, Thine alone,


O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, of that free love


The breadth, length, depth, and height to prove,


Here for a season, then above,


O Lamb of God, I come, I come!

Elliott became an invalid around age 30, and remained so for the rest of her life. About her physical condition, Elliott wrote:

"My Heavenly Father knows, and He alone, what it is, day after day, and hour after hour, to fight against bodily feelings of almost over­powering weakness and languor and exhaustion, to resolve, as He enables me to do, not to yield to the slothfulness, the depression, the irritability, such as a body causes me to long to indulge, but to rise every morning determined on taking this for my mot­to, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me.”

Charlotte Elliot wrote 150 hymns in her life time.  She died in 1871 aged 82.