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Legion was my name by nature The legion dispossessed

John Newton printed it in 1779 in Olney Hymns, Book I, no. 92, under Mark 5:18–19.

WRITTEN BY

John Newton 1725–1807

PRINTED

1779 Olney Hymns · no. 92

METRE

8.7.8.7 5 stanzas

WRITTEN ON

Mark 5:18–19 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

Legion was my name by nature

Legion was my name by nature,

Satan raged within my breast;

Never misery was greater,

Never sinner more possessed:

Mischievous to all around me,

To myself the greatest foe;

Thus I was, when Jesus found me,

Filled with madness, sin and woe.

Where Newton found it

Newton printed the hymn under Mark 5:18–19. The line that comes closest to it is marked.

18As He was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed by the demons begged to go with Him. 19But Jesus would not allow him. “Go home to your own people,” He said, “and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and what mercy He has shown you.” MARK 5:18–19 · BEREAN STANDARD BIBLE READ MARK 5

“Love, he said, will sweeten labors, Thou hast something yet to do; Go and tell your friends and neighbors, What my love has done for you: Live to manifest my glory, Wait for heav’n a little space; Sinners, when they hear thy story, Will repent and seek my face.” STANZA V

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

NO. 92 · JOHN NEWTON · THIS HYMN Legion was my name by nature

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