STUDY / LIVING THE CHRISTIAN LIFE / HYMNS

A Garden contemplation suits The garden

John Newton printed it in 1779 in Olney Hymns, Book II, no. 95, under Isaiah 61:3.

WRITTEN BY

John Newton 1725–1807

PRINTED

1779 Olney Hymns · no. 95

METRE

Common Metre 8.6.8.6 · 8 stanzas

WRITTEN ON

Isaiah 61:3 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

A Garden contemplation suits

A Garden contemplation suits,

And may instruction yield,

Sweeter than all the flow’rs and fruits

With which the spot is filled.

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 61:3. The line that comes closest to it is marked.

to console the mourners in Zion— to give them a crown of beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and a garment of praise for a spirit of despair. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified. ISAIAH 61:3 · BEREAN STANDARD BIBLE READ ISAIAH 61

His church as a fair garden stands, Which walls of love enclose; Each tree is planted by his hand, And by his blessing grows. STANZA VI

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

NO. 95 · JOHN NEWTON · THIS HYMN A Garden contemplation suits

Rooted in Scripture. Open for discovery.

A place to read slowly, ask deeply, and follow the connections. Scripture, study and the voices of Christian history, brought together for a lifetime of learning.

SPEND TIME IN THE WORD

  • Open the reader
  • Books & reading progress
  • Compare Scripture editions
  • Find a passage

FOLLOW YOUR QUESTIONS

  • Study collections
  • People & places
  • Faith & apologetics
  • Stories of faith

A library with a paper trail.

Meet the authors. Explore the collection. Trace each work to its source.

Download the code.

Open source on GitHub.