Edward Mote's Famous Hymn of Hope;

Today we remember Edward Mote as the author of the hymn "My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less than Jesus' Blood and Righteousness." Born in London early in 1797, he was a cabinet maker as a young man. Having become a Christian, he was baptized November 1st, 1815, at 18 years of age.

In the course of time, Mote became a Baptist pastor and served at Horsham, Sussex. His people loved him so much they offered him the title to the church, at which time he is reported to have said, "I do not want the chapel, I only want the pulpit; and when I cease to preach Christ, turn me out of that."

His famous hymn was first sung to a sick woman because a hymnbook could not be found. The words that we sing are different than the draft. For example, where we sing in the opening stanza, "My hope is built on nothing less, than Jesus' blood and righteousness," the original read, "Nor earth, nor hell, my soul can move, I rest upon unchanging love..."

When Mote was dying in 1874, his mind was still fixed on the efficacy of the blood of Christ. "Precious blood, precious blood, that makes peace with God," he said. His church erected a plaque in his memory. It notes that Mote preached "Jesus Christ and Him crucified, as all the sinner can need, and all the saint can desire."