"A fountain of Life and of Grace" is a classic eighteenth-century hymn by Charles Wesley. Written as a celebration of the "Living Water" offered to humanity, the hymn was first published in his 1762 collection, Short Hymns on Select Passages of Holy Scripture. It appeared in the second volume as entry number 866, structured in two stanzas of eight lines, and was written as a poetic reflection on Revelation 22:17: "And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely."
Recognizing its power as an evangelical invitation, John Wesley included the lyric in the landmark 1780 Wesleyan Hymn Book as hymn number 77. It remained a staple of subsequent editions of the denominational book and was later preserved in the comprehensive Poetical Works of John and Charles Wesley (published 1868 to 1872) in volume thirteen on page 240.
The hymn found an exceptionally warm reception across the global Methodist family, passing into the standard hymnals of almost all Methodist bodies. Its ecumenical appeal also carried it into many other Protestant and non-conformist worship collections throughout Great Britain and North America, where it has long been cherished for its passionate and open invitation to divine grace.
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