cerity, of every name and in every place, into whose hands it may come I more particularly dedicate to my dear friends in the parish and neighbourhood of Olney, for whose use the Hymns were originally composed, as a testimony of the sincere love I bear them, and as a token of my gratitude to the Lord and to them, for the comfort and satisfaction with which the discharge of my ministry among them has been attended. The hour is approaching, and, at my time of life, cannot be very distant, when my heart, my pen, and my tongue, will no longer be able to move in their service. But I trust while my heart continues to beat, it will feel a warm desire for the prosperity of their souls; and while my hand can write, and my tongue speak, it will be the business and the pleasure of my life to aim at promoting their growth and establishment in the grace of our God and Saviour. To this precious grace I commend them, and earnestly entreat them, and all who love His name, to strive mightily with their prayers to God for me, that I may be preserved faithful to the end, and enabled at last to finish my course with joy. OLNEY, BUCKS, Feb. 15, 1799. JOHN NEWTON. A Table of First Lines. PAGE A believer, free from care. Afflictions, though they seem severe A garden contemplation suits A glance from heaven, with sweet effect Alas! Elisha's servant cried 183 199 * 157 327 313 344 72 Alas! by nature how depraved A lion, though by nature wild 243 324 Almighty King! whose wondrous hand Amazing grace! (how sweet the sound!) As some tall rock amidst the waves 435 294 73 354 328 113 321 117 106 178 99 297 Be still, my heart! these anxious cares Bitter, indeed, the waters are Bleak winter is subdued at length Blinded in youth by Satan's arts Breathe from the gentle south, O Lord By various maxims, forms, and rules By faith in Christ I walk with God By the poor widow's oil and meal Cheer up, my soul, there is a mercy-seat Chief Shepherd of Thy chosen sheep Come, my soul, thy suit prepare Confirm the hope Thy Word allows Constrain'd by their Lord to embark Could the creatures help or ease us Courage, my soul! behold the prize PAGE 303 Happy are they to whom the Lord Hark! how Time's wide-sounding bell Happy the birth where grace presides Heal us, Emmanuel! here we are Hear what God the Lord hath spoken Hear what the Lord, the great Amen He who on earth as man was known Here, at Bethesda's pool, the poor His master taken from his head. I am (saith Christ) your glorious Head I ask'd the Lord that I might grow In mercy, not in wrath, rebuke In themselves as weak as worms In vain our fancy strives to paint I thirst, but not (as once I did). I was a grovelling creature once I would, but cannot sing Jesus Christ, the Lord's anointed Jesus, to what didst Thou submit Jesus, who bought us with His blood Jesus, whose blood so freely stream'd 187 |