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The Scripture Hymns of
John Newton (1725-1807)
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Adam (Gen. chap. iii)
On man in his own image made,
How much did God bestow!
The whole creation homage paid,
And own'd him Lord belowHe dwelt in Eden's garden, stor'd
With sweets for ev'ry sense;
And there, with his sescending Lord,
He walk'd in confidenceBut, oh! by sin how quickly chang'd!
His honour forfeited,
His heart from God and truth estrang'd,
His conscience fill'd with dread!Now from his Maker's voice he flees,
Which was before his joy;
And thinks to hide, amidst the trees,
From an all-seeing eye.Compell'd to answer to his name;
With stubbornness and pride,
He cast on God himself the blame;
Nor once for mercy cry'd.But grace, unask'd, his heart subdu'd;
And all his guilt forgave;
By faith the promis'd Seed he view'd,
And felt his pow'r to save.Thus we ourselves would justify,
Though we the law transgress;
Like him, unable to deny,
Unwilling to confess.But when by faith the sinner sees
A pardon bought with blood,
Then he forsakes his foolish pleas,
And gladly turns to God.Book I, Hymn 1, page 467
Cain & Abel (Gen. iv.3-8)
When Adam fell, he quickly lost
God's image which he once possess'd:
See all our nature since could boast
In Cain, his first-born son, express'd!The sacrifice the Lord ordain'd
In type of the Redeemer's blood,
Self-righteousness reas'ning Cain disdain'd
And thought his own first-fruits as good.Yet rage and envy fill'd his mind,
When with a sullen downcast look
He saw his brother favour find,
Who God's appointed method took.By Cain's own hand good Abel died,
Because the Lord approv'd his faith;
And when his blood for vengeance cry'd
He vainly thought to hide his death.Such was the wicked murd'rer Cain,
And such by nature still are we,
Until by grace we're born again,
Malicious, blind, and proud as he.Like him, the way of grace we slight,
And in our own devices trust;
Call evil good, and darkness light,
And hate and persecute the just.The saints in every age and place
Have found his history fulfill'd
The numbers all our thoughts surpass,
Of Abel's, whom the Cain's have kill'd.Thus Jesus fell--but, oh! his blood
Far better things than Abel's cries,
Obtains his murd'rers peace with God,
And gains them mansions in the skies.Book I, Hymn 2, page 467
Walking
with God
(Gen v. 24)
By faith in Christ I walk with God,
With heav'n, my journey's end in view;
Supported by his staff and rod,
My road is safe and pleasant too.
- I travel through a desert wide,
- Where many round me blindly stray;
- But he vouchsafes to be my guide,
- And will not let me miss my way.
- Though snares and dangers throng my path,
- And earth and hell my course withstand,
- I triumph over all by faith,
- Guarded by his almighty hand.
- The wilderness affords no food,
- But God for my support prepares;
- Provides me ev'ry needful good,
- And frees my soul from wants and cares.
- With him sweet converse I maintain,
- Great as he is, I dare be free,
- I tell him all my grief and pain,
- And he reveals his love to me.
- Some cordial from his word he brings
- When'er my feeble spirit faints;
- At once my soul revives and sings,
- And yields no more to sad complaints.
- I pity all that worldlings talk
- Of pleasures that will quickly end;
- Be this my choice, O Lord, to walk
- With thee, my Guide, my Guard, my Friend!
Book I, Hymn 4, page 468
Jacob's Ladder (Gen xxviii. 12)
- If the Lord our leader be,
- We may follow without fear;
- East or west, by land or sea,
- Home, with him, is ev'ry where:
- When from Esau Jacob fled,
- Though his pillow was a stone,
- And the ground his humble bed,
- Yet he was not left alone.
- Kings are often waking kept,
- Rack'd with cares on beds of state;
- Never king like Jacob slept,
- For he lay at heaven's gate:
- Lo! he say a ladder rear'd,
- Reaching to the heav'nly throne:
- At the top the Lord appear'd,
- Spake, and claim'd him for his own:
- "Fear not, Jacob, thou art mine,
- "And my presence with thee goes:
- "On thy heart my love shall shine,
- "And my arm subdue thy foes:
- "From my promise comfort take,
- "For my help in trouble call;
- "Never will I thee forsake,
- "Till I have accomplish'd all."
- Well does Jacob's ladder suit
- To the Gospel-throne of grace;
- We are at the ladder's foot
- Ev'ry hour, in ev'ry place:
- By assuming flesh and blood,
- Jesus, heav'n and earth unites;
- We, by faith, ascend to God,
- God to dwell with us delights.
- They who know the Saviour's name,
- Are for all events prepar'd;
- What can changes do to them
- Who have such a guide and guard:
- Should they traverse earth around,
- To the ladder still they come:
- Ev'ry spot is holy ground,
- God is there--and he's their home.
Book I, Hymn 9, page 470
Joseph Made Known to His Brethren (Gen. xli. 3,4)
When Joseph his brethren beheld,
Afflicted and trembling with fear,
His heart with compassion was fill'd;
From weeping he could not forbear.
Awhile his behaviour was rough,
To bring their past sin to their mind;
But when they were humbled enough,
He hasten'd to show himself kind.How little they thought it was he
Whom they had ill-treated and sold!
How great their confusion must be
As soon as his name he had told!
"I'm Joseph, your brother," he said,
"And still to my heart you are dear;
"You sold me, and thought I was dead,
"But God, for your sakes, sent me here."Though greatly distressed before,
When charg'd with purloining the cup,
They now were confounded much more,
Not one of them durst to look up.
"Can Joseph, whom we would have slain,
"Forgive us the evil we did;
"And will he our households maintain?
"O this is a brother indeed!"Thus dragg'd by my conscience, I came
And laden with guilt, to the Lord,
Surrounded with terror and shame,
Unable to utter a word.
At first he look'd stern and severe;
What anguish then pierced my heart!
Expecting each moment to hear
The sentence, "Thou cursed, depart."But, oh! what surprise when he spoke,
While tenderness beam'd in his face;
My heart then to pieces was broke,
O'erwhelm'd and confounded by grace:
"Poor sinner, I know thee full well,
"By thee I was sold and was slain;
"But I dy'd to redeem thee from hell,
"And raise the in glory to reign."I'm Jesus, whom thou hast blasphem'd,
"And crucify'd often afresh;
"But let me henceforth be esteem'd,
"Thy brother, thy bone, and thy flesh:
"My pardon I freely bestow,
"Thy wants I will fully supply;
"I'll guide thee and guard thee below,
"And soon will remove thee on high."Go publish to sinners around,
"That they may be willing to come,
"The mercy which now you have found,
"And tell them that yet there is room."
Oh, sinners, the message obey!
No more vain excuses pretend,
But come, without further delay,
To Jesus, our brother and friend.
Book I, Hymn 12, page 471-472
Ask what I shall give thee (III) (I Kings iii. 5)
Behold the throne of grace,
The promise calls us near,
There Jesus shows a smiling face
And waits to answer prayer.That rich atoning blood,
Which sprinkled round we see,
Provides for those who come to God
An all-prevailing plea.My soul, ask what thou wilt,
Thou canst not be too bold:
Since his own blood for thee he spilt,
What else can he withhold?Beyond our utmost wants
His love and pow'r can bless,
To praying souls He always grants
More than they can express.Since 'tis the Lord's command,
My mouth I open wide;
Lord open thou thy bounteous hand,
That I may be supply'd.Thine image, Lord, bestow,
Thy presence and Thy love,
I ask to serve Thee here below
And reign with Thee above.Teach me to live by faith,
Confirm my will to thine;
Let me victorious be in death,
And then in glory shine.If thou these blessings give,
And wilt my portion be,
Cheerful the world's poor toys I leave
To them who know not thee.Book I, Hymn 32, page 479-80
Faith's Review and Expectation (1 Chron. xvii. 16,17)
Amazing grace! (how sweet the sound)
That sav'd a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears reliev'd;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believ'd.Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
'Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.The Lord has promis'd good to me,
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess, within the vail,
A life of joy and peace.The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun refuse to shine;
But God, who call'd me here below,
Will be forever mine.
Zion, or the City of God (Isaiah. xxxiii.20, 21)
Glorious things of thee are spoken,
Zion, city of our God!
He, whose word cannot be broken,
Formed thee for his own abode:
On the Rock of Ages founded,
What can shake thy sure repose;
With salvation's walls surrounded,
Thou may'st smile at all thy foes.See, the streams of living waters
Springing from eternal love,
Well supply thy sons and daughters,
And all fear of want remove:
Who can faint while such a river
Ever flows their thirst t' assuage?
Grace which like the Lord, the giver,
Never fails from age to age.Round each habitation hov'ring,
See the cloud and fire appear!
For a glory and a cov'ring
Showing that the Lord is near;
Thus deriving from our banner,
Light by night and shade by day;
Safe they feed upon the manna
Which he gives them when they pray.Blest inhabitants of Zion,
Washed in our Redeemer's blood!
Jesus, Whom their souls rely on,
Makes them kings and priests to God:
'Tis his love his people raises,
Over self to reign as kings,
And as priests, his solemn praises
Each for a thank-off'ring brings.Savior, if of Zion's city
I, through grace, a member am;
Let the world deride or pity,
I will glory in thy name:
Fading is the worldling's pleasure,
All his boasted pomp and show;
Solid joys and lasting treasure
None but Zion's children know.Book I, Hymn 60, page 490
A Brand plucked out of the Fire (Zech. iii.1-5)
With Satan, my accuser, near
My spirit trembled when I saw
The Lord in majesty appear,
And heart the language of the law.In vain I wish'd and strove to hide
the tatter'd, filthy rags I wore;
While my fierce foe insulting cry'd
"See what you trusted in before!Struck dumb, and left without a plea,
I heard my gracious Saviour say,
"Know Satan, I this sinner free,
I died to take his sin away.""This is a brand which I, in love,
To save from wrath and sin design!
In vain thy accusations prove;
I answer all, and call him mine."At his rebuke the tempter fled;
The he remov'd my filthy dress;
"Poor sinner, take this robe," he said,
"It is thy Saviour's rightousness.""And see, a crown of life prepar'd!
That I might thus my head adorn;
I thought no shame or suff'ring hard,
But wore for thee a crown of thorn."O how I heard these gracious words!
They broke and heal'd my heart at once;
Constrained me to become the Lord's,
And all my idol-gods renounce.Now, Satan, thou hast lost thy aim,
Against this brand thy threats are vain;
Jesus has pluck'd it from the flame,
And who shall put it in again?Book I, Hymn 77, page 496
That Rock was Christ (1 Cor. x. 4)
When Israel's tribes were parch'd with thirst,
Forth from the rock the waters burst;
And all their future journey through
Yielded them drink, and Gospel too!In Moses' rod a type they saw
Of his severe and fiery law;
The smitten rock prefigur'd Him
From whose pierc'd side all blessings streamBut ah! the types were all too faint,
His sorrows or his worth to paint;
Slight was the stroke of Moses' rod,
But he endur'd the wrath of God.Their outward rock could feel no pain,
But ours was wounded, torn and slain;
The rock gave but a wat'ry flood,
But Jesus pour'd forth streams of blood.The earth is like their wilderness,
A land of drought and sore distress;
Without one stream from pole to pole,
To satisfy a thirsty soul.But let the Saviour's praise resound;
In him refreshing streams are found,
Which pardon, strength, and comfort give;
And thirsty sinners drink and live.Book I, Hymn 128, page 518