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The castle of the human heart The heart taken

John Newton printed it in 1779 in Olney Hymns, Book I, no. 101, under Luke 11:21–22.

WRITTEN BY

John Newton 1725–1807

PRINTED

1779 Olney Hymns · no. 101

METRE

Common Metre 8.6.8.6 · 8 stanzas

WRITTEN ON

Luke 11:21–22 the verse printed above it

The hymn, and the Scripture in it

All 8 stanzas as Newton printed them, with the verses their lines echo beside them. Point at a line to join it to its verse; click to read the passage.

SHARED WORDSthe verse shares the line's wording ECHOproposed by an AI model, confirmed by a separate check Not the author's own notes

AMONG THE SCRIPTURES

The stanzas at the centre; around them, every book its heading and its echoes come from, Old Testament on the left and New on the right. Choose a stanza or a book.

a line echoes this verse its heading or an echo comes from here

STANZA I

The castle of the human heart

Strong in its native sin;

Is guarded well, in every part,

By him who dwells within.

No line of this stanza quotes a verse closely; it is the hymn's own confession.

Where Newton found it

Newton printed the hymn under Luke 11:21–22. The line that comes closest to it is marked.

21When a strong man, fully armed, guards his house, his possessions are secure. 22But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted, and then he divides up his plunder. LUKE 11:21–22 · BEREAN STANDARD BIBLE READ LUKE 11

Thus Satan for a season reigns, And keeps his goods in peace; The soul is pleased to wear his chains, Nor wishes a release. STANZA IV

Its place in the book

Book I of Olney Hymns walks through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, one hymn per passage: 141 hymns. This is number 101. Point at a tick to see the hymn; click it to open that hymn.

NO. 101 · JOHN NEWTON · THIS HYMN The castle of the human heart

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