Unbelief the Soul Dismays by John Newton
The work presents a meditation on the nature and power of faith contrasted with the dejection of unbelief. It declares that when a person’s faith is established—that is, when it is rooted in the divine promise—the need for further human argument or persuasion ceases. The verses assert that true faith depends on both the assurance of God’s word and the divinely provided means to accomplish His purposes. The work employs a series of biblical historical examples: the parting of the sea and the miraculous fall of walls at Jericho illustrate that faith activates God’s predetermined interventions; the overturning of a camp by an unexpected act and the defeat of a formidable enemy by a well-aimed stone demonstrate that God’s power works through simple, even seemingly insignificant, actions when executed in faith. The text also emphasizes that God’s testing of believers serves to confirm that reliance is ultimately on divine strength rather than personal might. It points out that, although the ministers and preachers play the role of sowing the seeds of faith, the growth and fruition are entirely dependent on God’s intrinsic power to work in the human heart. In essence, the work delivers a message that faith, once genuinely possessed, leaves no room for doubt or further debate because it is securely founded on steadfast divine promises and actions, underscoring the sovereignty of God and the insignificance of human effort in the face of His ultimate will.
By John Newton · First published 1779 · Genre: Religious Poetry, Hymnody, Devotional Literature · 261 words
First lines
I: Unbelief the soul dismays, / What objections will it raise!
But true faith securely leans / On the promise, in the means.
II: If to faith it once be known, / God has said, "It shall be done, / And in this appointed way,"
Faith has then no more to say.
What this Textopian page supports
Unbelief the Soul Dismays 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, Hymnody, Devotional Literature, Theological Poetry, Christian Inspirational Literature
- Length: 261 words
- Structure: 1 section, 11 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
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- Work identity for Unbelief the Soul Dismays by John Newton
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Genres
- Religious Poetry — The work is written in verse and uses vivid biblical imagery and language to explore themes of faith and divine intervention.
- Hymnody — Its structure and content bear resemblance to hymns used in Christian worship, emphasizing prayer, miracles, and reliance on divine grace.
- Devotional Literature — The text serves as a meditation on faith and divine power, offering guidance and inspiration to believers.
- Theological Poetry — It discusses and interprets theological concepts such as salvation, divine authority, and the role of faith through poetic expression.
Tags
spirituality · doubt · despair · faith · theology · conversion · redemption · grace · repentance · salvation · biblical · Christianity