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When first my soul enlisted SAUL’s armor

John Newton printed it in 1779 in Olney Hymns, Book I, no. 28, under 1 Samuel 17:38–40.

WRITTEN BY

John Newton 1725–1807

PRINTED

1779 Olney Hymns · no. 28

METRE

7.6.7.6 6 stanzas

WRITTEN ON

1 Samuel 17:38–40 the verse printed above it

The hymn, and the Scripture in it

All 6 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

When first my soul enlisted

My Savior’s foes to fight;

Mistaken friends insisted

I was not armed aright:

So Saul advised David

He certainly would fail;

Nor could his life be saved

Without a coat of mail.

Where Newton found it

Newton printed the hymn under 1 Samuel 17:38–40. The line that comes closest to it is marked.

38Then Saul clothed David in his own tunic, put a bronze helmet on his head, and dressed him in armor. 39David strapped his sword over the tunic and tried to walk, but he was not accustomed to them. “I cannot walk in these,” David said to Saul. “I am not accustomed to them.” So David took them off. 40And David took his staff in his hand, selected five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag. And with his sling in hand, he approached the Philistine. 1 SAMUEL 17:38–40 · BEREAN STANDARD BIBLE READ 1 SAMUEL 17

When first my soul enlisted My Savior’s foes to fight; Mistaken friends insisted I was not armed aright: So Saul advised David He certainly would fail; Nor could his life be saved Without a coat of mail. STANZA I

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

NO. 28 · JOHN NEWTON · THIS HYMN When first my soul enlisted

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