SHORT HYMNS: AFTER SERMON
Hymn 96
Deuteronomy 33:26-29
With Israel's God who can compare?
Or who, like Israel, happy are?
O people saved by the Lord,
He is thy shield and great reward!
Upheld by everlasting arms,
Thou art secured from foes and harms;
In vain their plots, and false their boasts,
Our refuge is the Lord of Hosts.
Deuteronomy 33:26-29
There is none like unto the God of Jeshurun, who rideth upon the heaven in thy help, and in his excellency on the sky. The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them. Israel then shall dwell in safety alone: the fountain of Jacob shall be upon a land of corn and wine; also his heavens shall drop down dew. Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the Lord, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency! and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places.
See also sermon on Deuteronomy 33:29
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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 17 Feb 1774:
Deuteronomy 33:29 Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the Lord, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency! and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places.
Sunday 28 December 1777
Again supported and favoured with liberty. Lord I would praise thee for all mercies. The evening hymn led [me] to consider thy goodness in past years of life. For myself, surely I may say, Mercy and goodness have followed me all my days. Love bid me live when lying in my blood, Love redeemed me from Africa, saved me from sinking in the ocean, then touched my heart, became my guide, prepared my way, and gave me a long succession of blessings, and it is well with me thus far. Health, peace, and the restoration of my Dear, so much beyond what I could hope this time twelvemonth. Though I could speak today, thou my Lord only knowest the folly and vanity which filled my heart, especially in the afternoon. Though I smarted in the spring for listening to the thoughts of a change, yet I am again haunted with it and while I would resist and drive it away, I feel another will, that cleaves to the proposal, and would build castles upon it, as if, it had actually taken place. So weak and vile am I. O that I could more feelingly say, I abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes.
2 Chronicles 20:12 O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee.
Deuteronomy 33:29 Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the Lord, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency! and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places.
Hymn No. 291 [should be No. 292]
26 May 1778:
I spoke the two mornings ar Mr Barham’s from Deuteronomy 33:29, 2 Corinthians 6:10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
Tuesday 26 January 1779
At the Great House spoke from Esther 2 on thy Wise Governing Providence. May I be practically and experimentally acquainted with it, not only able to talk about it, but to trust and submit to it in all cases, so as to glorify thy Name, and to possess thy peace in my soul.
Esther was brought also unto the king's house... and she obtained grace and favour in his sight.
Tuesday 9 February 1779
I go on with Esther, though I find the subject not so full as some others, yet I hope it may be seasonable to notice the wonderful movements of thy providence, by which thou preservest those who put their trust in thee, and puttest their enemies to shame.
See also sermon on Deuteronomy 33:29 |
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