Praise for the Fountain Opened explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Grace and Unmerited Favor

  The speaker acknowledges unworthiness yet rejoices in the blood-bought reward prepared by God.

• Hope of Heaven and Eternal Life

  The hymn looks forward to a nobler song in heaven and a golden harp tuned for endless years.

Characters to notice

• Jesus Christ

  Referred to as Emmanuel and the dying Lamb, whose blood forms the fountain of cleansing.

• The Thief

  The dying thief who rejoiced to see the fountain, serving as an example of salvation.

• The Narrator

  The speaker who has washed sins away and commits to praising redeeming love until death.

• God

  The Father to whom the eternal song of praise is directed.

Key passages

• “There is a fountain fill’d with blood Drawn from Emmanuel’s veins; And sinners plunged beneath that flood Lose all their guilty stains.”

  The blood of Christ, flowing from his wounds, is like a fountain that cleanses all who are immersed in it from their sins.

  The central metaphor of the hymn, emphasizing the cleansing power of Christ's sacrifice.

• “Dear dying Lamb, thy precious blood Shall never lose its power Till all the ransom’d church of God Be saved, to sin no more.”

  The blood of Christ remains effective until every believer is fully redeemed and freed from sin.

  Expresses the enduring efficacy of Christ's atonement for the entire church.

• “Then in a nobler, sweeter song, I’ll sing thy power to save⁠— When this poor lisping stamm’ring tongue Lies silent in the grave.”

  After death, the believer will praise God with a more perfect voice than is possible in this life.

  Contrasts earthly limitations with the perfection of heavenly worship.