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ROMANS Chapter 7:19 The Good that I would I do not I would, but cannot sing, Guilt has untuned my voice; The serpent sin’s envenomed sting Has poisoned all my joys. I know the Lord is nigh, And would, but cannot, pray; For Satan meets me when I try, And frights my soul away. I would, but can’t repent, Though I endeavour oft; This stony heart can ne’er relent Till Jesus make it soft. I would, but cannot love, Though wooed by love divine: No arguments have power to move A soul so base as mine. I would, but cannot rest In God’s most holy will; I know what he appoints is best, Yet murmur at it still! Oh could I but believe! Then all would easy be; I would, but cannot, – Lord, relieve; My help must come from thee! But if indeed I would, Though I can nothing do; Yet the desire is something good, For which my praise is due. By nature prone to ill, Till thine appointed hour, I was as destitute of will, As now I am of power. Wilt thou not crown at length The work thou hast begun? And with a will, afford me strength, In all thy ways to run.		from John Newton's Diary, relevant to this hymn: Saturday 4 March 1775 The week is brought round again, crowned with mercies, and a continued exemption from heavy crosses, except that under which I groan within. I have felt it, and lamented it this week. I think I thirst after nearer communion with the Lord in secret, for my prayers are wild, incoherent and wandering as a dream. He is pleased to stand at a distance, most deservedly, and alas! what can I do without him? It is a mercy if I can so much as cry with some real desire, Return O Lord how long? This evening I have tried to seek his blessing upon tomorrow – but alas in what a manner. Sunday 5 March 1775 I feel some desires which I know the Lord only can give – but I labour under much opposition and hindrance from a vile nature. All my spiritual powers seem disjointed and enfeebled, yet I can preach. Or rather, the Lord still enables me. In the afternoon before sermon I felt an unusual weight upon my spirits, and a stagnation of thought. It seemed impossible to speak or even to fix upon a subject. Yet I was carried through, I suppose with some apparent liberty. Hymn in the Evening: I would but cannot. It is my own case - To will is present with me. O thou who hast given me to will, work in me to do of thine own good pleasure. 2 Samuel 23:1 Psalm 51:1-3 Hymn No. 198 [On this date Newton preached from the above texts at his church, St Peter & St Paul, Olney, during the morning and afternoon services, and from this hymn at the informal evening service]

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Hymn: MS Eng 1317, Houghton Library, Harvard University
Diary: John Newton Collection, CO199, Princeton University