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SHORT HYMNS: AFTER SERMON Hymn 98 We seek a rest beyond the skies, In everlasting day; Through floods and flames the passage lies, But Jesus guards the way: The swelling flood, and raging flame, Hear and obey his word; Then let us triumph in his name, Our Saviour is the Lord.		Short Hymns Thursday 28 January 1779: ‘I finished transcribing the Hymns, only that I have a few short ones to make, suited to the introduction and conclusion of divine worship.’ The last hymn dated in Newton’s diary, No. 334, was written for 1 January 1779, which may also have been the date for No. 335. But judging from their sequence in his ms notebook, some may have been written prior to that, possibly from around November 1778. With no certainty of dates, some perhaps pertinent quotes: Thursday 5 November 1778 Preached in the evening, with some view to the anniversary of the day, and thy great mercy in preserving this nation from the return of Popery. My text in course was suitable to the occasion. This day last year was a time of riot and confusion; under some apprehension of a return of the like disorders, I endeavoured to look up to thee, for peace and protection, and thou didst hear prayer and give us a quiet evening, and preserve us from all disturbance, for which I desire to return thee praise. Hebrews 11:35,36 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: Thursday 26 November 1778 Preached in the evening, proceeded to the beginning of the 12th [chapter of] Hebrews as a proper inference from the 11th Spoke of the cloud of witnesses, and the manner in which we are encompassed about with them, but was rather confused in one part of my subject. O for that faith which beholds invisibles and acts under the influence of the perception. Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.

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