The Evil Heart

Astonished and distressed

Author: Benjamin Beddome (1787)
Tune: KENTUCKY
Published in 81 hymnals

Representative Text

1 Astonished and distressed,
I turn my eyes within;
My heart with loads of guilt oppressed
The source of every sin.

2 What crowds of evil thoughts,
What vile affections there!
Envy and pride, deceit and guile,
Distrust and slavish fear.

3 Almighty King of saints!
These tyrant lusts subdue;
Drive the old serpent from his seat,
And all my powers renew.

4 This done,–my cheerful voice
Shall loud hosannas raise;
My heart shall glow with gratitude,
My lips be filled with praise.


Source: Hymns for the Sanctuary and Social Worship: with tunes #406

Author: Benjamin Beddome

Benjamin Beddome was born at Henley-in Arden, Warwickshire, January 23, 1717. His father was a Baptist minister. He studied at various places, and began preaching in 1740. He was pastor of a Baptist society at Bourton-on-the-Water, Gloucestershire, until his death in 1795. In 1770, he received the degree of M.A. from the Baptist College in Providence, Rhode Island. He published several discourses and hymns. "His hymns, to the number of 830, were published in 1818, with a recommendation from Robert Hall." Montgomery speaks of him as a "writer worthy of honour both for the quantity and the quality of his hymns." --Annotations of the Hymnal, Charles Hutchins, M.A. 1872.… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Astonished and distressed
Title: The Evil Heart
Author: Benjamin Beddome (1787)
Meter: 6.6.8.6
Source: Appeared posthumously in Hymns Adapted to Public Worship (London: Burton and Briggs,1818); John Rippon, A Selection of Hymns from the Best Authors, 1787
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Notes

Astonished and distressed. B. Beddome. [Lent.] Contributed to Rippon's Selection 1787, No. 40, in 4 stanzas of 4 lines and headed "The evil heart." From Rippon it has passed into several selections, and is found in use at the present time both in Great Britain and America, sometimes in an altered form. Original text as above. A revised version of the text was given in the posthumous edition of Beddome's Hymns, edited by B. Hall, 1817, No. 469. This is not in common use. In some collections this hymn is attributed to Toplady. This error arose out of the fact that Walter Row included it in his unsatisfactory edition of Toplady's Works. [William T. Brooke]

-- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 81 of 81)
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A New Selection of Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs #111

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A Selection of Hymns & Psalms #36

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A Selection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs #H.CCXI

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A Selection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs #H.CCXI

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A Selection of Hymns for Public Worship. In four parts (10th ed.) (Gadsby's Hymns) #733

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A Selection of Hymns from the Best Authors. #40

A Selection of Hymns, from Various Authors #d22

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A Selection of Hymns #XL

Apples of Gold in Pictures of Silver #d11

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Baptist Hymn Book #a48

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Chapel Hymns #[9]

Christian Mission Hymns #d2

Christian Psalms and Hymns to Aid in Public and Private Devotion #d72

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Church Psalmist #254

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Church Psalmist #254

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Church Psalmist #254

Collection of Hymns for Public and Private Worship. 4th ed. #d25

Compilation of Hymns for the Use of the Churches of the Christian Union #d51

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Dupuy's Hymns and Spiritual Songs (Rev. corr. and enl.) #160

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Evangelical Hymns #60

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Hymn Book of the Methodist Protestant Church #232

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Hymn Book of the Methodist Protestant Church. (11th ed.) #232

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Hymn Book of the Methodist Protestant Church. (2nd ed.) #536

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Hymn book of the Methodist Protestant Church. (4th ed.) #536

Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Selected and Original. 7th ed. #d23

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Hymns for Christian Melody #268

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Hymns for Social Worship #89

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Hymns for Social Worship #143

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Hymns for the Sanctuary and Social Worship #406

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Hymns #213

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Hymns #213

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Hymns #213

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New Union Hymns #269

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Parish Hymns #224

Parish Psalmody #d47

Parish Psalmody #d49

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Seamen's Hymns #254

Seamen's Hymns and Devotional Assistant #d38

Select Hymns #d32

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Select Hymns #114

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Social Psalmist #254

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Songs for the Sanctuary, or Hymns and Tunes for Christian Worship #442

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Songs for the Sanctuary; or Psalms and Hymns for Christian Worship (Baptist Ed.) #442

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Songs for the Sanctuary; or, Psalms and Hymns for Christian Worship (Words only) #442

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Songs for the Sanctuary #442

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Songs for the Sanctuary #442

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Songs for the Sanctuary #442

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Songs of the Church #244

Spiritual Melodies #d25

Spiritual Melodies. Enl. & impr. ed. #d28

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The Baptist Hymn Book #97

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The Baptist Hymn Book #48

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The Baptist Psalmody #420

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The Christian Harmonist #44

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The Christian Psalmist; or, Watts' Psalms and Hymns #260

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The Cluster of Spiritual Songs, Divine Hymns and Sacred Poems #CDLXXX

The Halifax Selection of Hymns #d32

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The Hartford Selection of Hymns from the Most Approved Authors #XXIX

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The Hartford Selection of Hymns #XXIX

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The Lexington Collection #143

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The Otterbein Hymnal #179

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The People's Hymnal #179

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The Psalms and Hymns of Dr. Watts #758

Village Hymns #345

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Village hymns for social worship, selected and original #345

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Village hymns for social worship, selected and original #345

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Village Hymns for Social Worship, Selected and Original #345

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