Adventist Pioneer Library

The Christian — Unfaithfulness Lamented

'Tis a point I long to know

  • No. 589
  • Words John Newton.
  • 5 stanzas
  • Words only in the original

Words

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1

'Tis a point I long to know,Oft it causes anxious thought;Do I love the Lord, or no?Am I his, or am I not?

2

Could my heart so hard remain,Prayer a task and burden prove,Every trifle give me pain,If I knew a Saviour's love?

3

Yet I mourn my stubborn will,Find my sin a grief and thrall;Should I grieve for what I feel,If I did not love at all?

4

Could I joy with saints to meet,Choose the ways I once abhorred,Find at times the promise sweet,If I did not love the Lord?

5

Lord, decide the doubtful case,Thou who art thy people's Sun;Shine upon thy work of grace,If it be indeed begun.

About this hymn

As printed Words only. As printed: hymn number «589» (large) with the reference line «720, 457, 531.» in bold italic figures beside it (sing to the tune of hymn 720, 457 or 531); right column of p. 191, below hymn 588 («Jane Taylor.»). Five numbered stanzas of four lines; «John Newton» in italics at the foot of the column, with no final period visible. The first word «'TIS» is set in capitals and small capitals. Lines 2 and 4 of each stanza are indented in the print. The print sets a thin space before «;» and «?» («thought ;», «no ?», «not ?», «love ?», «thrall ;», «all ?», «Lord ?», «Sun ;»); it is closed up here. Spelling, punctuation and capitals are the print's. No meter is printed (the text is 7s, four lines).

Source
The Seventh-day Adventist Hymn and Tune Book (Battle Creek: Review & Herald, 1886/1888)
Where
The Christian — Unfaithfulness Lamented · No. 589 · printed page 191
Checked
lyrics verified (fork reading; parent check pending) · 2026-10-01