The song was written by Daniel Herbert (1751-1833), a congregational minister who served at Sudbury in Suffolk. Not much is known about him, apart from a few volumes of hymns he wrote, and what information can be gleaned from his obituary. The editor of Gospel Magazine said of him after his death in 1833: “He was a plain, unadorned, though faithful and honest, messenger to dispense the word of eternal life to the helpless family of Zion.” In the preface to his 1801 volume of hymns, Herbert says: “I flatter myself that the hymns will be received by those who know the plague of their own hearts and have felt the power of efficacious grace. While the poor saved sinner, who is enabled to credit the report of the gospel of salvation, full and free, without money and without price, will find satisfaction in reading these lines, whatever the man untaught of God may say will give the writer no concern”¹.

Come boldly to a throne of grace,
Ye wretched sinners come;
And lay your load at Jesus’ feet,
And plead what he has done.

“How can I come?” some soul may say,
“I’m lame, and cannot walk;
My guilt and sin have stopped my mouth;
I sigh, but dare not talk.”

Come boldly to the throne of grace,
Though lost, and blind, and lame;
Jehovah is the sinner’s Friend,
And ever was the same.

He makes the dead to hear his voice;
He makes the blind to see;
The sinner lost he came to save,
And set the prisoner free.

Come boldly to the throne of grace,
For Jesus fills the throne;
And those he kills he makes alive;
He hears the sigh or groan.

Poor bankrupt souls, who feel and know
The hell of sin within,
Come boldly to the throne of grace;
The Lord will take you in.

¹breadforbeggars.com/2013/07/come-boldly-to-the-throne-of-grace-performed-by-jason-waller/