The death of A Believer

In vain our fancy strives to paint

Author: John Newton
Tune: YORK (Scottish)
Published in 101 hymnals

Printable scores: PDF, Noteworthy Composer
Audio files: MIDI

Representative Text

1 In vain my fancy strives to paint
The moment after death,
The glories that surround a saint,
When yielding up his breath.

2 One gentle sigh his fetters breaks,
We scarce can say, "he's gone!"
Before the willing spirit takes
Its mansions near the throne.

3 Faith strives, but all its efforts fail,
To trace the spirit's flight;
No eye can pierce within the veil
Which hides that world of light.

4 Thus much (and this is all) we know,
Saints are completely blest;
Have done with sin, and care, and woe,
And with their Savior rest.

5 On harps of gold they praise his name,
His face they always view;
Then let us followers be of them,
That we may praise him too.

The Hartford Selection of Hymns from the most approved authors, 1799

Author: John Newton

John Newton (b. London, England, 1725; d. London, 1807) was born into a Christian home, but his godly mother died when he was seven, and he joined his father at sea when he was eleven. His licentious and tumul­tuous sailing life included a flogging for attempted desertion from the Royal Navy and captivity by a slave trader in West Africa. After his escape he himself became the captain of a slave ship. Several factors contributed to Newton's conversion: a near-drowning in 1748, the piety of his friend Mary Catlett, (whom he married in 1750), and his reading of Thomas à Kempis' Imitation of Christ. In 1754 he gave up the slave trade and, in association with William Wilberforce, eventually became an ardent abolitionist. After becoming a tide… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: In vain our fancy strives to paint
Title: The death of A Believer
Author: John Newton
Meter: 8.6.8.6
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

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The Cyber Hymnal #10789
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  • Noteworthy Composer Score (NWC)

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The Cyber Hymnal #10789

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