Philippians 4: 11 by John Newton
The work meditates on inner contentment achieved through surrender to divine grace. It contrasts the turbulent passions that unsettle the mind with the serene acceptance found by relying on a higher power. The text asserts that human reason and effort fall short, and true peace comes from embracing the teachings of the divine Saviour. By recounting a personal journey from despair and incessant complaint to a calm, thankful state of being, the verse illustrates how recognizing one's sins and accepting divine discipline transforms suffering into spiritual strength. The narrative encourages its audience to compare earthly troubles with the divine love and sacrifice, suggesting that all hardship is proportioned by grace. Daily providence is portrayed as a comforting ordainment that promises eventual transcendence of life's wretched trials, replacing pain with everlasting joy. Overall, the work is an exhortation to relinquish self-reliance in favor of divine dependence as the surest path to lasting contentment.
By John Newton · First published 1779 · Genre: Religious Poetry, Devotional Literature, Hymnody · 316 words
First lines
I: Fierce passions discompose the mind, / As tempests vex the sea; / But calm content and peace we find / When, Lord, we turn to thee.
II: In vain by reason and by rule / We try to bend the will; / For none but in the Saviour's school / Can learn the heavenly skill.
III: Since at his feet my soul has sat, / His gracious words to hear; / Contented with my present state, / I cast on him my care.
IV: "Art thou a sinner, soul? " he said, / "Then how canst thou complain?
What this Textopian page supports
Philippians 4: 11 is listed on Textopian as a poem by John Newton, dated 1779 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: John Newton
- Date: 1779 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Religious Poetry, Devotional Literature, Hymnody, Inspirational Literature, Christian Literature
- Length: 316 words
- Structure: 1 section, 10 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Philippians 4: 11 by John Newton
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Genres
- Religious Poetry — The work interweaves scriptural allusion with a poetic structure, expressing devotion and spiritual themes.
- Devotional Literature — It serves to guide the reader toward contentment and introspection through faith, a core element of devotional texts.
- Hymnody — The lyrical style, cadence, and call to divine consolation align it with hymn traditions used in worship.
- Inspirational Literature — Themes of overcoming suffering with faith and finding strength in spiritual embrace offer an inspirational message.
Tags
Christianity · spirituality · biblical inspiration · contentment · faith · hope · acceptance · endurance · resilience · gratitude · reflection · prayer