Not much is known about the author John Stocker, other than he lived in Honitan, Devonshire. He is considered a friend of A. M. Toplady (who wrote “Rock of Ages”) and Stocker contributed nine hymns to “The Gospel Magazine” in 1776-1777¹. This hymn, included in Spurgeon’s Own Hymn Book, is a personal favourite of mine.

Thy mercy, my God, is the theme of my song,
The joy of my heart. and the boast of my tongue;
Thy free grace alone, from the first to the last,
Hath won my affections, and bound my soul fast.

Without Thy sweet mercy I could not live here;
Sin would reduce me to utter despair;
But, through Thy free goodness, my spirits revive,
And He that first made me still keeps me alive.

Thy mercy is more than a match for my heart,
Which wonders to feel its own hardness depart;
Dissolved by Thy goodness, I fall to the ground,
And weep to the praise of the mercy I’ve found.

Great Father of mercies, Thy goodness I own,
And the covenant love of Thy crucified Son;
All praise to the Spirit, Whose whisper divine
Seals mercy, and pardon, and righteousness mine.

¹bibletruthpublishers.com/john-stocker/adrian-roach/the-little-flock-hymn-book-its-history-and-hymn-writers/a-roach/la105012