I heard of old that Jesus,
Who still abides the same,
To publicans gave welcome,
And sinners deep in shame.
Oh God! receive me with them,
Me also welcome in,
And pardon my transgression,
Forgetting all my sin.
The author of the hymn was Thomas Williams of Glamorganshire, born 1761; died 1844. He published a volume of hymns, Waters of Bethesda in 1823.
The Welsh minor tune of “Clwyd” may appropriately have been the music to express the contrite prayer of the words. The living composer, John Jones, has several tunes in the Welsh revival manual of melodies, Ail Attodiad.