Analysis of Joy and Peace in Believing

John Newton 1725 (Wapping, London) – 1807 (London)



Sometimes a light surprises
The Christian while he sings;
It is the Lord who rises
With healing in his wings:
When comforts are declining,
He grants the soul again
A season of clear shining,
To cheer it after rain.

In holy contemplation,
We sweetly then pursue
The theme of God's salvation,
And find it ever new:
Set free from present sorrow,
We cheerfully can say,
E'en let th' unknown to-morrow
Bring with it what it may.

It can bring with it nothing
But he will bear us through;
Who gives the lilies clothing,
Will clothe his people too:
Beneath the spreading heavens,
No creature but is fed;
And he who feeds the ravens,
Will give his children bread.

Though vine nor fig-tree neither
Their wonted fruit shall bear,
Though all the field should wither,
Nor flocks nor herds be there:
Yet God the same abiding,
His praise shall tune my voice;
For while in him confiding,
I cannot but rejoice.


Scheme XAXABXBX CDCDEFEF BDBDGHGH IJIJBKBK
Poetic Form
Metre 0101010 010111 1101110 110011 1101010 110101 0101110 111101 010010 110101 0111010 011101 1111010 110011 1111101110 111111 1111110 111111 1101010 111101 0101010 110111 0111010 111101 1111110 11111 1101110 111111 1101010 111111 1101010 110101
Closest metre Iambic trimeter
Characters 898
Words 162
Sentences 5
Stanzas 4
Stanza Lengths 8, 8, 8, 8
Lines Amount 32
Letters per line (avg) 22
Words per line (avg) 5
Letters per stanza (avg) 176
Words per stanza (avg) 40
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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

49 sec read
120

John Newton

Rev Dr John A Newton CBE is a prominent Methodist minister, author, historian and former President of the Methodist Conference. more…

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