Analysis of Prayer Answered by Crosses
John Newton 1725 (Wapping, London) – 1807 (London)
I ask'd the Lord, that I might grow
In faith, and love, and ev'ry grace,
Might more of his salvation know,
And seek more earnestly his face.
'Twas he who taught me thus to pray,
And he, I trust has answer'd pray'r;
But it has been in such a way,
As almost drove me to despair.
I hop'd that in some favour'd hour,
At once he'd answer my request:
And by his love's constraining pow'r,
Subdue my sins, and give me rest.
Instead of this. he made me feel
The hidden evils of my heart;
And let the angry pow'rs of hell
Assault my soul in ev'ry part.
Yea more, with his own hand he seem'd
Intent to aggravate my woe;
Cross'd all the fair designs I schem'd,
Blasted my gourds, and laid me low.
Lord, why is this, I trembling cry'd,
Wilt thou pursue thy worm to death?
"'Tis in this way," the Lord reply'd,
"I answer pray'r for grace and faith.
"These inward trials I employ,
"From self and pride to set thee free;
"And break thy schemes of earthly joy,
"That thou mayst seek thy all in me."
Scheme | ABAB CDCX XEDE XFXF GAGA EXEX HIHI |
---|---|
Poetic Form | Quatrain (71%) |
Metre | 11011111 0101011 11110101 01110011 11111111 011111011 11110101 1111101 11101110 11110101 011101011 01110111 01111111 01010111 01010111 0111011 11111111 0111011 11010111 10110111 111111001 11011111 1011011 110111101 11010101 11011111 01111101 11111101 |
Closest metre | Iambic tetrameter |
Characters | 984 |
Words | 195 |
Sentences | 10 |
Stanzas | 7 |
Stanza Lengths | 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4 |
Lines Amount | 28 |
Letters per line (avg) | 26 |
Words per line (avg) | 7 |
Letters per stanza (avg) | 104 |
Words per stanza (avg) | 27 |
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Submitted on May 13, 2011
Modified on April 24, 2023
- 1:03 min read
- 372 Views
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"Prayer Answered by Crosses" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem-analysis/23980/prayer-answered-by-crosses>.
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