Analysis of Peter Sinning And Repenting

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



When Peter boasted, soon he fell,
Yet was by grace restored;
His case should be regarded well
By all who fear the Lord.

A voice it has, and helping hand,
Backsliders to recall;
And cautions those who think they stand,
Lest suddenly they fall.

He said, Whatever others do,
With Jesus I'll abide;
Yet soon amidst a murd'rous crew
His suff'ring Lord denied.

He who had been so bold before,
Now trembled like a leaf;
Not only lied, but cursed and swore,
To gain the more belief.

While he blasphemed he heard the cock,
And Jesus looked in love;
At once, as if by lightning struck,
His tongue forbore to move.

Delivered thus from Satan's snare
He starts, as from a sleep;
His Saviour's look he could not bear,
But hasted forth to weep.

But sure the faithful cock had crowed
A hundred times in vain;
Had not the Lord that look bestowed,
The meaning to explain.

As I, like Peter, vows have made,
Yet acted Peter's part;
So conscience, like the cock, upbraids
My base, ungrateful heart.

Lord Jesus, hear a sinner's cry,
My broken peace renew;
And grant one pitying look, that I
May weep with Peter too.


Scheme ABAB CDCD EFEF GHGH XXXX IJIJ KLKL XMXM NENE
Poetic Form Quatrain  (89%)
Metre 11010111 111101 11110101 111101 01110101 111 01011111 110011 1110101 110101 1101011 11101 11111101 110101 11011101 110101 1111101 010101 11111101 11111 0101111 111101 1111111 11111 11010111 010101 11011101 010101 11110111 110101 1101011 110101 1101011 110101 011100111 111101
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 1,074
Words 202
Sentences 10
Stanzas 9
Stanza Lengths 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4
Lines Amount 36
Letters per line (avg) 23
Words per line (avg) 6
Letters per stanza (avg) 94
Words per stanza (avg) 22
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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on April 16, 2023

1:02 min read
44

John Newton

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

All John Newton poems | John Newton Books

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