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Darkness overspreads us here Salvation drawing nearer

John Newton printed it in 1779 in Olney Hymns, Book I, no. 127, under Romans 8.

WRITTEN BY

John Newton 1725–1807

PRINTED

1779 Olney Hymns · no. 127

METRE

7.7.7.7 4 stanzas

WRITTEN ON

Romans 8 the verse printed above it

The hymn, and the Scripture in it

All 4 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

Darkness overspreads us here

Darkness overspreads us here,

But the night wears fast away;

Jacob’s star will soon appear,

Leading on eternal day!

Now ’tis time to rouse from sleep,

Trim our lamps and stand prepared;

For our LORD strict watch to keep,

Lest he find us off our guard.

Where Newton found it

Newton printed the hymn under Romans 8. The line that comes closest to it is marked.

1Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2For in Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set you free from the law of sin and death. 3For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful man, as an offering for sin. He thus condemned sin in the flesh, 4so that the righteous standard of the law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. … 35 more verses ROMANS 8 · ITS FIRST VERSES · BEREAN STANDARD BIBLE READ ROMANS 8

Though already saved, by grace, From the hour we first believed; Yet while sin and war have place, We have but a part received: Still we for salvation wait, Every hour it nearer comes! Death will break the prison gate, And admit us to our homes. STANZA III

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 127. Point at a tick to see the hymn; click it to open that hymn.

NO. 127 · JOHN NEWTON · THIS HYMN Darkness overspreads us here

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