The Highway Forums General Discussion Open Forum Newton Poem

I just came across a John Newton poem that I believe people on the Highway would appreciate.

Sin, when viewed by scripture light,
Is a horrid, hateful sight;
But when seen in Satan’s glass,
Then it wears a pleasing face.

When the gospel trumpet sounds,
When I think how grace abounds,
When I feel sweet peace within,
Then I’d rather die than sin.

When the cross I view by faith,
Sin is madness, poison, death;
Tempt me not, ‘tis all in vain,
Sure I ne’er can yield again.

Satan, for awhile debarred,
When he finds me off my guard,
Puts his glass before my eyes,
Quickly other thoughts arise.

What before excited fears,
Rather pleasing now appears;
If a sin, it seems so small,
Or, perhaps, no sin at all.

Often thus, through sin’s deceit,
Grief, and shame, and loss I meet,
Like a fish, my soul mistook,
Saw the bait, but not the hook.

O my Lord, what shall I say?
How can I presume to pray?
Not a word have I to plead,
Sins, like mine, are black indeed!

Made, by past experience, wise,
Let me learn thy word to prize;
Taught by what I’ve felt before,

Let me Satan’s glass abhor.

Boy can I ever relate to this, how many times could I have said something like

"Often thus, through sin’s deceit,
Grief, and shame, and loss I meet,
Like a fish, my soul mistook,
Saw the bait, but not the hook.

I so appreciate Newton's candidness regarding his own struggles with sin.

I asked the Lord that I might grow
in faith and love and every grace
might more of His salvation know
and seek more earnestly His face.

'Twas He that taught me thus to pray
and He I trust has answered prayer
but it has been in such a way
as almost drove me to despair.

I hoped that in some favored hour
at once He'd answer my request
and by His love's constraining power
subdue my sins and give me rest.

Instead of this He made me feel
the hidden evils of my heart
and let the angry powers of Hell
assault my soul in every part.

Yea more, with His own hand He seemed
intent to aggravate my woe
crossed all the fair designs I schemed
blasted my gourds and laid me low.

"Lord, why is this?" I trembling cried
"Wilt Thou pursue Thy worm to death?"
"Tis in this way," the Lord replied
"I answer prayer for grace and faith."

"These inward trials I employ,
from self and pride to set the free,
and break thy schemes of earthly joy,
that thou mayst seek thy all in Me."

John Newton