Samuel Medley was born June 23, 1738, at Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, where his father kept a school. He received a good education; but not liking the business to which he was apprenticed, he entered the Royal Navy. Having been severely wounded in a battle in 1759, he was obliged to retire from active service. A sermon by Dr. Watts, read to him about this time, led to his conversion. Having begun to preach, he received, in 1767, a call to become pastor of the Baptist church at Watford. In 1772, he moved to Byrom Street, Liverpool, where he gathered a large congregation, and for 27 years was remarkably popular and useful. After a long and painful illness he died July 17, 1799¹. The below hymn has been reworked by The Corner Room in the video; enjoy!.

Hear, gracious God, a sinner’s cry,
For I have nowhere else to fly;
My hope, my only hope’s in thee;
O God, be merciful to me!

To thee I come, a sinner poor,
And wait for mercy at thy door;
Indeed, I’ve nowhere else to flee;
O God, be merciful to me!

To thee I come, a sinner weak,
And scarce know how to pray or speak;
From fear and weakness set me free;
O God, be merciful to me!

To thee I come, a sinner vile;
Upon me, Lord, vouchsafe to smile;
Mercy, through blood, I make my plea;
O God, be merciful to me!

To thee I come, a sinner great,
And well thou knowest all my state;
Yet full forgiveness is with thee;
O God, be merciful to me!

To thee I come, a sinner lost,
Nor have I aught wherein to trust;
But where thou art, Lord, I would be;
O God, be merciful to me!

To glory bring me, Lord, at last,
And there, when all my fears are past,
With all thy saints I’ll then agree,
God has been merciful to me!

¹hymnary.org/person/Medley_S