Nay, I cannot let thee go

Nay, I cannot let thee go

Author: John Newton
Published in 51 hymnals

Representative Text

1 Nay, I cannot let thee go,
'Till a blessing thou bestow;
Do not turn away thy face,
Mine's an urgent, pressing case.

2 Dost thou ask me who I am?
Ah, my Lord, thou know'st my name!
Yet the question gives a plea,
To support my suit with thee.

3 Thou didst once a wretch behold,
In rebellion blindly bold,
Scorn thy grace, thy pow'r defy,
That poor rebel, Lord, was I.

4 Once a sinner near despair
Sought thy mercy seat by pray'r;
Mercy heard and set me free,
Lord, that mercy came to me.

5 Many years have pass'd since then,
Many changes I have seen;
Yet have been upheld 'till now,
Who could hold me up but thou?

6 Thou hast help'd in ev'ry need,
This emboldens me to plead;
After so much mercy past,
Canst thou let me sink at last!

7 No--I must maintian my hold,
'Tis thy goodness makes me bold;
I can no denial take,
When I plead for Jesu's sake.


Source: Hymns and Spiritual Songs for the use of Christians #4

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: Nay, I cannot let thee go
Author: John Newton
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 51 of 51)
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A Collection of Hymns #350

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A Selection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs #S.LXXXV

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A Selection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs #S.LXXXV

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Baptist Hymn Book #aB173

Camp Meeting Hymn Book #d93

Choice Selection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs #d51

Heavenly Echoes #d78

Hymns and Spiritual Songs for the use of Christians. 9th ed. #d118

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Hymns and Spiritual Songs (New ed.) #16

Hymns and Spiritual Songs for the Use of Christians #d94

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Hymns and Spiritual Songs for the use of Christians #4

Hymns and Spiritual Songs for the Use of Christians. 8th ed. #d114

Hymns and Spiritual Songs, for the Use of Christians #d68

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Hymns for Church and Home #333

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Hymns for Social Worship #200

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Hymns of the Church Militant #276b

Revival Hymns #d49

Revival Hymns #d55

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Revival Hymns (Rev. ed.) #66

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Revival Songs #258

Revival Songs. 4th ed. #d176

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Social and Camp-meeting Songs, for the Pious (9th ed. enl.) #83

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Social and Campmeeting Songs For the Pious (4th ed.) #83

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Songs of Zion Enlarged #161

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Songs of Zion #100

Songs of Zion #d61

Sought-Out Songs for Christian Workers #d99

Sought-Out Songs for Christian Workers #d102

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The Baptist Hymn Book #B173

The Bible Harp #d164

The Bible Hymn Book #d161

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The Camp-Meeting Chorister #37

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The Lecture-Room Hymn-Book #H239

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The Lord's Songs #XXXIII

The New and Improved Camp Meeting Hymn Book #d92

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The New and Improved Camp Meeting Hymn Book #75

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The Sacred Lyre #20

The Sacred Songster. 5th ed. #d112

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The Sweet Singer of Israel #104

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The Zion Songster #143

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The Zion Songster #143

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Young Singer's Friend #239

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Zion's Refreshing Showers #82b

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Zion's Songster #39

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