While with ceaseless course the sun

While with ceaseless course the sun. John Newton* (1725-1807).  JJ notes (p. 1275) that this was first published in Newton’s Twenty-Six Letters on Religious Subjects. To which are added, Hymns, &c. by Omicron (1774), where it was the last hymn in the book, entitled ‘On the New Year’. It was included in the 1774 Edition of Richard Conyers*’s Collection of Psalms and Hymns, from Various Authors, before finding its place as the opening hymn of Book II (‘On Occasional Subjects’) of Olney Hymns (1779). In 1779 it was preceded by I. SEASONS. /NEW-YEAR’s HYMNS./ HYMN I./ Time how swift.’ It had three stanzas: While with ceaseless course the sun Hasted thro’ the former year, Many souls their...