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O, may the pow’r which melts the rock Confession and Prayer. December 13, 1776

John Newton printed it in 1779 in Olney Hymns, Book II, no. 65, under Isaiah 1:2.

WRITTEN BY

John Newton 1725–1807

PRINTED

1779 Olney Hymns · no. 65

METRE

Long Metre 8.8.8.8 · 8 stanzas

WRITTEN ON

Isaiah 1:2 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

O, may the pow’r which melts the rock

Be felt by all assembled here!

Or else our service will but mock

The GOD whom we profess to fear!

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 Isaiah 1:2. The line that comes closest to it is marked.

Listen, O heavens, and give ear, O earth, for the LORD has spoken: “I have raised children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against Me. ISAIAH 1:2 · BEREAN STANDARD BIBLE READ ISAIAH 1

But ah! both heav’n and earth have heard Our vile requital of his love! We, whom like children he has reared, Rebels against his goodness prove. STANZA V

Its place in the book

Book II of the hymn book, “On occasional subjects”, holds these hymns in this order: 100 hymns. This is number 65. Point at a tick to see the hymn; click it to open that hymn.

NO. 65 · JOHN NEWTON · THIS HYMN O, may the pow’r which melts the rock

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