Scripture Verse

I am with you always. Matthew 28:20

Introduction

portrait
John Newton (1725–1807)

Words: John New­ton, 1776.

Music: So­li­tude (Downes) Lew­is T. Downes, 1851 (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pic­ture of Downes (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Origin of the Hymn

Bull, in his life of New­ton, gives the fol­low­ing account of the ori­gin of this hymn:—

In No­vem­ber [1776] Mr. New­ton un­der­went an op­era­tion for a tu­mour in his thigh. He was mer­ci­ful­ly brought through it, and was ve­ry soon able to re­sume his or­di­na­ry du­ties. On this oc­ca­sion he comp­osed the 71st hymn, Bk. ii. in the Ol­ney Hymns.

As in­ti­mat­ed, the hymn ap­peared in the Ol­ney Hymns, 1779, in 7 st. of 4 l., and head­ed Part­ing. It came in­to use in the old­er col­lect­ions, and is still found in a few hymn­als both in G. Bri­tain and Am­eri­ca. The hymn, For a sea­son called to part, which is giv­en in the New Cong., 1859, No. 848, and oth­er col­lect­ions, es­pe­ci­al­ly in Am­eri­ca, is com­posed of st. iv., v., and vi. of this hymn.

Julian, p. 85.

Lyrics

As the sun’s en­liv­en­ing eye
Shines on ev­ery place the same;
So the Lord is al­ways nigh
To the souls that love His name.

When they move at du­ty’s call,
He is with them by the way;
He is ev­er with them all,
Those who go, and those who stay.

From His ho­ly mer­cy seat
Nothing can their souls con­fine;
Still in spir­it they may meet,
And in sweet com­mun­ion join.

For a sea­son called to part,
Let us then our­selves com­mend
To the gra­cious eye and heart,
Of our ev­er pre­sent friend.

Jesus, hear our hum­ble pray­er!
Tender shep­herd of Thy sheep!
Let Thy mer­cy and Thy care
All our souls in safe­ty keep.

In Thy strength may we be strong,
Sweeten ev­ery cross and pain;
Give us, if we live, ere long
Here to meet in peace again.

Then, if Thou Thy help af­ford,
Ebenezers shall be reared;
And our souls shall praise the Lord
Who our poor pe­ti­tions heard.