O Boundless Salvation

Boundless Salvation is a hymn composed by William Booth, Founder of The Salvation Army. Commissioner Theodore Kitching said that one morning arriving at the Founder's home at 6:00am, he found William Booth completing the verses of this song which he had written during the night. It was apparently first sung at 'Boundless Salvation' meetings in Exeter Hall, London on 14th-15th November 1893. The verses, with a chorus 'The Heavenly gales are blowing', were published under the title 'Boundless Salvation' in The War Cry - 23rd December 1893. William Booth announced this song when he appeared in public for the last time at his 83rd birthday celebrations in the Royal Albert Hall, London, 9th May 1912.

Tunes

• 'My Jesus I Love Thee' (AKA 'Fidelity')
  • Composer:
    • The Cyber Hymnal™ calls it 'My Jesus I Love Thee' but gives it as the tune for 'O Boundless Salvation'. This source names the composer "J. Ellis".
    • The Worshiping Church, 1990 calls it 'Affection' but gives it as one of the tunes for 'My Jesus, I Love Thee'. This source says the tune is by "E. F. Miller, 19th C.".
    • The Christian Life Hymnal, 2006 calls it 'Boundless Salvation', and gives it as the tune Booth's hymn of the same title ('incipit' 'O Boundless Salvation'). This source says "attr. J. Ellis, 19th c."
  • Copyright: public domain

Lyrics

• Poet: William Booth (1829-1912)
• Copyright: public domain

Original verses

1 O boundless salvation! deep ocean of love,

O fulness of mercy, Christ brought from above.

The whole world redeeming, so rich and so free,

Now flowing for all men, come, roll over me!

2 My sins they are many, their stains are so deep.

And bitter the tears of remorse that I weep;

But useless is weeping; thou great crimson sea,

Thy waters can cleanse me, come, roll over me!

3 My tempers are fitful, my passions are strong,

They bind my poor soul and they force me to wrong;

Beneath thy blest billows deliverance I see,

O come, mighty ocean, and roll over me!

4 Now tossed with temptation, then haunted with fears,

My life has been joyless and useless for years;

I feel something better most surely would be

If once thy pure waters would roll over me.

5 O ocean of mercy, oft longing I've stood

On the brink of thy wonderful, life-giving flood!

Once more I have reached this soul-cleansing sea,

I will not go back till it rolls over me.

6 The tide is now flowing, I'm touching the wave,

I hear the loud call of the mighty to save;

My faith's growing bolder, delivered I'll be;

I plunge 'neath the waters, they roll over me.

7 And now, hallelujah! the rest of my days

Shall gladly be spent in promoting his praise

Who opened his bosom to pour out this sea

Of boundless salvation for you and for me.