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Afflictions do not come alone Love-tokens

John Newton printed it in 1779 in Olney Hymns, Book I, no. 135, under Hebrews 12:5–11.

WRITTEN BY

John Newton 1725–1807

PRINTED

1779 Olney Hymns · no. 135

METRE

Common Metre 8.6.8.6 · 8 stanzas

WRITTEN ON

Hebrews 12:5–11 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

Afflictions do not come alone

Afflictions do not come alone,

A voice attends the rod;

By both he to his saints is known,

A Father and a GOD!

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 Hebrews 12:5–11. The line that comes closest to it is marked.

5And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not take lightly the discipline of the Lord, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you. 6For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises every son He receives.” 7Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? 8If you do not experience discipline like everyone else, then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. 9Furthermore, we have all had earthly fathers who disciplined us, and we respected them. Should we not much more submit to the Father of our spirits and live? 10Our fathers disciplined us for a short time as they thought best, but God disciplines us for our good, so that we may share in His holiness. 11No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields a harvest of righteousness and peace to those who have been trained by it. HEBREWS 12:5–11 · BEREAN STANDARD BIBLE READ HEBREWS 12

I see your hearts, at present, filled With grief, and deep distress; But soon these bitter seeds shall yield The fruits of righteousness. STANZA VII

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

NO. 135 · JOHN NEWTON · THIS HYMN Afflictions do not come alone

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