[3] Charles Wesley was suffering a bout of pleurisy in May 1738, while he and his brother were studying under the Moravian scholar Peter Boehler in London.

Taken to bed with the sickness, on 21 May Wesley was attended by a group of Christians who offered him testimony and basic care, and he was deeply affected by this.

[4] This hymn took the form of an 18-stanza poem, beginning with the opening lines "Glory to God, and praise, and love, / Be ever, ever given" and was published in 1740 and entitled "For the anniversary day of one's conversion".

On this glad day the glorious Sun Of righteousness arose, On my benighted soul he shone, And filled it with repose.

I felt my Lord's atoning blood Close to my soul applied; Me, me he loved - the Son of God For me, for me he died!

I found and owned his promise true, Ascertained of my part, My pardon passed in heaven I know, When written on my heart.

My gracious Master and my God, Assist me to proclaim, To spread through all the world abroad The honors of Thy name.

the Name that charms our fears, That bids our sorrows cease; 'Tis music in the sinner's ears, 'Tis life, and health, and peace.

He speaks, - and, listening to his voice, New life the dead receive; The mournful, broken hearts rejoice; The humble poor believe.

Awake from guilty nature's sleep, And Christ shall give you light, Cast all your sins into the deep, And wash the AEthiop white.

The 1989 editors of The United Methodist Hymnal omitted the verse containing the words "dumb" and "lame", but later reverted to the original version.

[7] The authors of Companion to Hymns and Psalms (1988) note that the verse "He breaks the power of cancelled sin" is an apparent tautology, but speculated on Wesley's intention.