There is a line in the song, "At Calvary," by William R. Newell (1850-1919), that says, "O the mighty gulf that God did span at Calvary!"

One day, Dr. R. A.Torrey, president of Moody Bible Institute, received a letter from a distressed father.  The father asked if his troubled son could come to the Institute.  Dr. Torrey at first said no, because they were a Bible school, not a reformatory.  However, due to the persistence of the father, he agreed on the condition that the boy would meet daily with him and abide by the rules.

The boy was William R. Newell.  He kept the rules, but day after day he voiced his frustrations to Dr. Torrey.  Despite this, God's Word was working in his heart.  Several years later, he would become a beloved professor of Moody Bible Institute, and go on to be an author of a popular series of Bible Commentaries.

In 1895, William started thinking of writing his testimony in verse form.  One day when he was walking to his lecture, some lines came to him.  He quickly ducked into an empty classroom, and jotted down the words on the back of an envelope.  After he finished, he continued on his way to the lecture, and met Dr. David Towner, director of music at the Institute.  He handed the words to him, suggesting that maybe he could write a good melody to them.

Dr. Towner went to work on it right away.  But the time Dr. Newell finished his class, the tune was ready.  The two men sang it together, and it was published shortly after.

William Newell once said that had he not gone through his troubled years, he might never have fully understood the importance of Calvary's grace.  The chorus and verses to the song are:

Chorus:

Mercy there was great, and grace was free,

Pardon there was multiplied to me;

There my burdened soul found liberty--at Calvary.

Years I spent in vanity and pride, caring not my Lord was crucified.

Knowing not it was for me He died on Calvary.

By God's Word at last my sin I learned--then I trembled at the law I'd spurned,

Till my guilty soul imploring turned to Calvary.

Now I've giv'n to Jesus ev'rything now I gladly own Him as my King,

Now my raptured soul can only sing of Calvary.

O the love that drew salvation's plan!  O the grace that bro't it down to man!

O the mighty gulf that God did span at Calvary!