Adventist Pioneer Library

The Christian — Unfaithfulness Lamented

Sweet was the time when first I felt

  • No. 583
  • Words John Newton.
  • 5 stanzas
  • Words only in the original

Words

⤢ Full screen
1

Sweet was the time when first I feltThe Saviour's pardoning bloodApplied to cleanse my soul from guilt,And bring me home to God.

2

Soon as the morn the light revealed,His praises tuned my tongue;And when the evening shades prevailed,His love was all my song.

3

In prayer my soul drew near the Lord,And saw his glory shine;And when I read his holy word,I called each promise mine.

4

But now, when evening shade prevails,My soul in darkness mourns;And when the morn the light reveals,No light to me returns.

5

Rise, Lord, and help me to prevail;O make my soul thy care!I know thy mercy cannot fail;Let me that mercy share.

About this hymn

As printed Words only. As printed: hymn number «583» (large) in the right column of p. 189, under «John Morrison.» of hymn 582, with the italic reference line «639, 1075, 117.» (= sing to the tunes of hymns 639, 1075 or 117) beside the number; stanzas 1–5 in the right column; «John Newton.» in italics after stanza 5. The first word «SWEET» is set in capitals and small capitals. The second and fourth lines of each stanza are indented in the print. The print's thin space before «;» and «!» is closed up; apostrophes are written straight. No meter is printed (the text is C. M., like the three tunes referred to). Spelling, punctuation and capitals are the print's; stanza 5 ends with a comma in the print («share,»; see uncertainties.md).

Source
The Seventh-day Adventist Hymn and Tune Book (Battle Creek: Review & Herald, 1886/1888)
Where
The Christian — Unfaithfulness Lamented · No. 583 · printed page 189
Checked
lyrics verified (fork reading; parent check pending) · 2026-10-01