Grace 'Tis a Charming Sound
Grace 'tis a charming sound
Grace 'Tis a Charming Sound is a hymn text by Samuel Medley (1775) in C.M. meter. Found in lw 389, th 526, tlh 374. Sung to WINCHESTER OLD.
The hymn embodies Lutheran understanding of grace as God's unmerited favor freely given to sinners through faith in Christ. It resonates with the Reformation emphasis on sola gratia (grace alone) and the transformative power of divine mercy in human salvation.
History & Background
Written by English hymn writer Samuel Medley in 1775, this hymn celebrates the wonder of God's grace. It was widely adopted in evangelical Protestant hymnals and appeared in The Lutheran Hymnal (1941) as hymn 374.
Hymnal Appearances
- Lutheran Worship — 389
- Trinity Hymnal — 526
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 374
Bulletin Note
Composed by Samuel Medley in 1775, this hymn embodies the Reformation cry of sola gratia—grace alone—and remains a singable, joyful testimony to God's unmerited favor toward sinners.
Preaching Connection
This hymn crystallizes the Gospel's proclamation of free grace to sinners, making it a powerful response to any sermon emphasizing our helplessness under the Law and our absolute dependence on Christ's mercy.
Catechism & Confessional Connections
- Of Justification Augsburg Confession
Stanza Arc
The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: From Law (fear and dread) to Gospel (glad tidings, peace, and God's grace revealed in Christ's birth)
Background Research
TLH 374. Doddridge's original was headed "Salvation by Grace" (Eph 2:5) and published after his death by Job Orton in Hymns (1755), in four 4-line stanzas. Toplady's Psalms & Hymns (1776, no. 134) combined them with three stanzas of his own and a few word changes. Julian says every later version comes either from Doddridge's original or from Toplady's cento; TLH uses the cento (Doddridge st. 1, 2, 4, 6 and Toplady st. 3, 5, as credited). So the irenic, moderate Calvinist Doddridge and the combative Calvinist Toplady share one hymn (the theological labels are my characterisation). Hymnary counts 863 hymnals. Usual tune SILVER STREET, attributed to Isaac Smith (c. 1780) though he never claimed it; CRANBROOK is also used (the Ilkla Moor tune, from memory). Variant opening: "Grace! 'tis a joyful sound".
Overview
A composite hymn on grace: Philip Doddridge's original, with two stanzas by Augustus Toplady ('Rock of Ages'). Grace is a charming sound that heaven and earth echo (st. 1); grace devised the way of salvation (st. 2); grace wrote my name in God's book and gave me to the Lamb (st. 3); grace led my wandering feet (st. 4); grace taught me to pray and keeps me (st. 5); grace crowns the whole work and lays heaven's topmost stone (st. 6). Grace is the subject of every stanza — from eternal election to final glory.
Central theme: Grace alone from beginning to end: planning salvation, electing, converting, preserving and completing
Structure
Six short-meter quatrains, each beginning 'Grace…': the sound (1) — the plan (2) — election (3) — the road (4) — prayer and keeping (5) — the crown (6).
Law & Gospel Shape
Gospel throughout; Law only implied in 'rebellious man' and 'wandering feet' (2, 4).
Confessional Connections
Eph 2:5 (TLH's text): 'by grace you have been saved.' Sola gratia across the whole ordo: the plan (st. 2; 1 Pet 1:20), eternal election (st. 3, Toplady — 'Grace first inscribed my name / In God's eternal book'; Eph 1:4; Phil 4:3), conversion (st. 4), prayer and preservation (st. 5), glorification (st. 6). Lutherans confess election to salvation as pure grace and comfort (FC XI.5, 43-45), while rejecting a double predestination; Toplady was a strict Calvinist, but these stanzas speak only of election to life, which the Formula affirms. 'Topmost stone… Grace, grace to it!' (Zech 4:7).
Liturgical Use (Study Notes)
Reformation; Trinity season; general praise.
Historical Notes
Doddridge (1702-1751) wrote the original (Hymns, 1755); Toplady (1740-1778) recast it with added stanzas in his Psalms and Hymns (1776).
About the Tune
ENERGY (William H. Monk, 1861).
Scripture References
Eph 2:5 Eph 2:8-9 Eph 1:4-6 Rev 13:8 Phil 4:3 John 6:37 John 17:6 Ps 119:176 Phil 3:14 Rom 8:26 Phil 1:6 Zech 4:7 1 Pet 1:5
Stanza by Stanza
Grace! It is a charming sound, harmonious to the ear; heaven will resound with the echo, and all the earth will hear.
'By grace you have been saved' (Eph 2:5, 8).
- Scripture
- Eph 2:5, Eph 2:8
- Imagery & language
- Grace; charming; echo.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — grace proclaimed.
- Connection to previous
- Grace sounds.
Grace first devised the way to save rebellious humanity, and all the steps that show grace drew up the wonderful plan.
'Foreknown before the foundation of the world' (1 Pet 1:20). 'To the praise of his glorious grace' (Eph 1:6).
- Scripture
- 1 Pet 1:20, Eph 1:4-6
- Imagery & language
- Grace devised; rebellious man; wondrous plan.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — salvation's plan.
- Connection to previous
- The plan.
Grace first wrote my name in God's eternal book; it was grace that gave me to the Lamb, who took all my sorrows.
'Whose names are in the book of life' (Phil 4:3). 'He chose us in him before the foundation of the world' (Eph 1:4). 'All that the Father gives me will come to me' (John 6:37; 17:6). 'Surely he has borne our griefs' (Isa 53:4). FC XI.
- Scripture
- Phil 4:3, Eph 1:4, John 6:37, John 17:6, Isa 53:4
- Imagery & language
- Name inscribed; eternal book; given to the Lamb.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — election by grace.
- Connection to previous
- Election.
Grace led my wandering feet to walk the heavenly road, and I meet new supplies every hour while pressing on to God.
'I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant' (Ps 119:176). 'I press on toward the goal' (Phil 3:14). 'Grace upon grace' (John 1:16).
- Scripture
- Ps 119:176, Phil 3:14, John 1:16
- Imagery & language
- Wandering feet; heavenly road; new supplies.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — conversion and daily grace.
- Connection to previous
- The road.
Grace taught my soul to pray and made my eyes overflow; it was grace that kept me to this day and will not let me go.
'The Spirit helps us in our weakness… we do not know what to pray for' (Rom 8:26). 'Guarded through faith for a salvation' (1 Pet 1:5).
- Scripture
- Rom 8:26, 1 Pet 1:5, John 10:28
- Imagery & language
- Prayer; tears; kept; not let go.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — preserving grace.
- Connection to previous
- Kept.
Grace will crown the whole work through everlasting days; it lays the topmost stone in heaven and well deserves the praise.
'He shall bring forward the top stone amid shouts of Grace, grace to it!' (Zech 4:7). 'He who began a good work… will bring it to completion' (Phil 1:6).
- Scripture
- Zech 4:7, Phil 1:6
- Imagery & language
- Crown; topmost stone; praise.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — glorification by grace.
- Connection to previous
- Topmost stone.
Themes
Grace Salvation through faith Divine mercy Joy in redemption God's love