STUDY / LIVING THE CHRISTIAN LIFE / HYMNS

If to Jesus for relief Questions to unbelief

John Newton printed it in 1779 in Olney Hymns, Book III, no. 38, under Matthew 6:26–30.

WRITTEN BY

John Newton 1725–1807

PRINTED

1779 Olney Hymns · no. 38

METRE

7.6.7.6.7.7.7.6 5 stanzas

WRITTEN ON

Matthew 6:26–30 the verse printed above it

The hymn, and the Scripture in it

All 5 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

If to Jesus for relief

My soul has fled by prayer;

Why should I give way to grief,

Or heart–consuming care?

Are not all things in his hand?

Has he not his promise past?

Will he then regardless stand

And let me sink at last?

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 Matthew 6:26–30. The line that comes closest to it is marked.

26Look at the birds of the air: They do not sow or reap or gather into barns—and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? 28And why do you worry about clothes? Consider how the lilies of the field grow: They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was adorned like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? MATTHEW 6:26–30 · BEREAN STANDARD BIBLE READ MATTHEW 6

While I know his providence Disposes each event; Shall I judge by feeble sense, And yield to discontent? If he worms and sparrows feed, Clothe the grass in rich array; Can he see a child in need, And turn his eye away? STANZA II

Its place in the book

Book III of the hymn book, “On the progress and changes of the spiritual life”, holds these hymns in this order: 106 hymns. This is number 38. Point at a tick to see the hymn; click it to open that hymn.

NO. 38 · JOHN NEWTON · THIS HYMN If to Jesus for relief

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