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Olney Hymns
by William Cowper

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XXI. Sardis

(Revalations, iii. 1-6)

"Write to Sardis," saith the Lord,

"And write what He declares,

He whose Spirit, and whose word,

Upholds the seven stars:

All thy works and ways I search,

Find thy zeal and love decay'd;

Thou art call'd a living church,

But thou art cold and dead.

"Watch, remember, seek, and strive,

Exert thy former pains;

Let thy timely care revive,

And strengthen what remains;

Cleanse thine heart, thy works amend,

Former times to mind recall,

Lest my sudden stroke descend,

And smite thee once for all.

"Yet I number now in thee

A few that are upright;

These my Father's face shall see,

And walk with me in white.

When in judgment I appear,

They for mine shall be confess'd;

Let my faithful servants hear, --

And woe be to the rest!"



XXII. Prayer for Children

Bestow, dear Lord, upon our youth,

The gift of saving grace;

And let the seed of sacred truth

Fall in a fruitful place.

Grace is a plant, where'er it grows,

Of pure and heavenly root;

But fairest in the youngest shows,

And yields the sweetest fruit.

Ye careless ones, O hear betimes

The voice of sovereign love!

Your youth is stain'd with many crimes,

But mercy reigns above.

True, you are young, but there's a stone

Within the youngest breast;

Or half the crimes which you have done

Would rob you of your rest.

For you the public prayer is made;

Oh! Join the public prayer!

For you the secret tear is shed:

Oh shed yourselves a tear!

We pray that you may early prove

The Spirit's power to teach;

You cannot be too young to love

That Jesus whom we preach.



XXIII.Pleading for and with Youth

Sin has undone our wretched race;

But Jesus has restored,

And brought the sinner face to face

With his forgiving Lord.

This we repeat from year to year

And press upon our youth;

Lord, give them an attentive ear,

Lord, save them by Thy truth!

Blessings upon the rising race!

Make this a happy hour,

According to Thy richest grace,

And thine Almighty power.

We feel for your unhappy state

(May you regard it too),

And would a while ourselves forget

To pour our prayer for you.

We see, though you perceive it not,

The approaching awful doom;

Oh tremble at the solemn thought,

And flee the wrath to come!

Dear Saviour, let this new-born year

Spread an alarm abroad;

And cry in every careless ear,

"Prepare to meet thy God!"



XXIV. Prayer for Children

Gracious Lord, our children see,

By Thy mercy we are free;

But shall these, alas! remain

Subjects still of Satan's reign?

Israel's young ones, when of old

Pharaoh threaten'd to withhold,

Then Thy messenger said, "No;

Let the children also go!"

When the angel of the Lord,

Drawing forth his dreadful sword,

Slew with an avenging hand,

All the first-born of the land;

Then Thy people's door he pass'd,

Where the bloody sign was placed:

Hear us, now, upon our knees,

Plead the blood of Christ for these!

Lord, we tremble, for we know

How the fierce malicious foe,

Wheeling round his watchful flight,

Keeps them ever in his sight:

Spread Thy pinions, King of kings!

Hide them safe beneath Thy wings;

Lest the ravenous bird of prey

Stoop and bear the brood away.



XXV. Jehovah Jesus

My song shall bless the Lord of all,

My praise shall climb to His abode;

Thee, Saviour, by that name I call,

The great Supreme, the mighty God.

Without beginning or decline,

Object of faith and not of sense;

Eternal ages saw Him shine,

He shines eternal ages hence.

As much when in the manger laid,

Almighty Ruler of the sky,

As when the six days' work He made,

Fill'd all the morning stars with joy.

Of all the crowns Jehovah bears,

Salvation is His dearest claim;

That gracious sound well pleased He hears

And owns Emmanuel for His name.

A cheerful confidence I feel,

My well placed hopes with joy I see;

My bosom glows with heavenly zeal,

To worship Him who died for me.

As man He pities my complaint,

His power and truth are all divine;

He will not fail, He cannot faint;

Salvation's sure, and must be mine.



XXVI. On Opening a Place for Social Prayer

Jesus! where'er Thy people meet,

There they behold Thy mercy seat;

Where'er they seek Thee, Thou art found,

And every place is hallow'd ground.

For Thou, within no walls confined,

Inhabitest the humble mind;

Such ever bring Thee where they come

And going, take Thee to their home.

Dear Shepherd of Thy chosen few!

Thy former mercies here renew;

Her to our waiting hearts proclaim

The sweetness of Thy saving name.

Here may we prove the power of prayer,

To strengthen faith, and sweeten care;

To teach our faint desires to rise,

And bring all Heaven before our eyes.

Behold, at Thy commanding word

We stretch the curtain and the cord;

Come Thou, and fill this wider space,

And bless us with a large increase.

Lord, we are few, but Thou art near:

Nor short Thine arm, nor deaf Thine ear;

Oh rend the heavens, come quickly down,

And make a thousand hearts Thine own.



XXVII. Welcome to the Table

This is the feast of heavenly wine,
And God invites to sup;
The juices of the living Vine
Were press'd to fill the cup.

Oh! bless the Saviour, ye that eat,
With royal dainties fed;
Not heaven affords a costlier treat,
For Jesus is the bread.

The vile, the lost, He calls to them;
Ye trembling souls, appear!
The righteous in their own esteem
Have no acceptance here.

Approach, ye poor, nor dare refuse
The banquet spread for you;
Dear Saviour, this is welcome news,
Then I may venture too.

If guilt and sin afford a plea,
And may obtain a place,
Surely the Lord will welcome me,
And I shall see his face.

XVIII. Jesus Hasting to Suffer

The Saviour, what a noble flame

Was kindled in his breast,

When hasting to Jerusalem,

He march'd before the rest.

Good will to men, and zeal for God,

His every thought engross;

He longs to be baptized with blood,

He pants to reach the cross!

With all His suffering full in view,

And woes to us unknown,

Forth to the task His spirit flew,

'Twas love that urged Him on.

Lord, we return Thee what we can:

Our hearts shall sound abroad,

Salvation to the dying Man,

And to the rising God!

And while Thy bleeding glories here

Engage our wondering eyes,

We learn our lighter cross to bear,

And hasten to the skies.

XXIX. Exhortation to Prayer.

What various hindrances we meet

In coming to a mercy seat!

Yet who that knows the worth of prayer,

But wishes to be often there?

Prayer makes the darken'd cloud withdraw,

Prayer climbs the ladder Jacob saw,

Gives exercise to faith and love,

Brings every blessing from above.

Restraining prayer, we cease to fight;

Prayer makes the Christian's armour bright;

And Satan trembles when he sees

The weakest saint upon his knees.

While Moses stood with arms spread wide,

Success was found on Israel's side;

But when through weariness they fail'd,

That moment Amalek prevail'd.

Have you no words? Ah, think again,

Words flow apace when you complain,

And fill your fellow-creature's ear

With the sad tale of all your care.

Were half the breath thus vainly spent

To heaven in supplication sent,

Your cheerful song would oftener be,

"Hear what the Lord has done for me."

XXX. The Light and Glory of the Word

The Spirit breathes upon the word,

And brings the truth to sight;

Precepts and promises afford

A sanctifying light.

A glory gilds the sacred page,

Majestic like the sun;

It gives a light to every age,

It gives, but borrows none.

The hand that gave it still supplies

The gracious light and heat;

His truths upon the nations rise,

They rise, but never set.

Let everlasting thanks be thine,

For such a bright display,

As makes a world of darkness shine

With beams of heavenly day.

My soul rejoices to pursue

The steps of Him I love,

Till glory break upon my view

In brighter worlds above.

On the Death of a Minister

His master taken from his head,

Elisha saw him go;

And in desponding accents said,

"Ah, what must Israel do?"

But he forgot the Lord who lifts

The beggar to the throne;

Nor knew that all Elijah's gifts

Would soon be made his own.

What! when a Paul has run his course,

Or when Apollos dies,

Is Israel left without resource,

And have we no supplies?

Yes, while the dear Redeemer lives,

We have a boundless store,

And shall be fed with what He gives,

Who lives for evermore.

XXXII. The Shining Light

My former hopes are fled,

My terror now begins;

I feel, alas! that I am dead

In trespasses and sins.

Ah, whither shall I fly?

I hear the thunder roar;

The Law proclaims Destruction nigh,

And Vengeance at the door.

When I review my ways,

I dread impending doom:

But sure a friendly whisper says,

"Flee from the wrath to come."

I see, or think I see,

A glimmering from afar;

A beam of day, that shines for me,

To save me from despair.

Forerunner of the sun,

It marks the pilgrim's way;

I'll gaze upon it while I run,

And watch the rising day.

XXXIII. The Waiting Soul

Breathe from the gentle south, O Lord,

And cheer me from the north;

Blow on the treasures of thy word,

And call the spices forth!

I wish, Thou knowest, to be resign'd,

And wait with patient hope;

But hope delay'd fatigues the mind,

And drinks the spirits up.

Help me to reach the distant goal;

Confirm my feeble knee;

Pity the sickness of a soul

That faints for love of Thee!

Cold as I feel this heart of mine,

Yet, since I feel it so,

It yields some hope of life divine

Within, however low.

I seem forsaken and alone,

I hear the lion roar;

And every door is shut but one,

And that is Mercy's door.

There, till the dear Deliverer come,

I'll wait with humble prayer;

And when He calls His exile home,

The Lord shall find him there.

XXXIV. Seeking the Beloved

To those who love the Lord I speak;

Is my Beloved near?

The Bridegroom of my soul I seek,

Oh! when will He appear?

Though once a man of grief and shame,

Yet now He fills a throne,

And bears the greatest, sweetest name,

That earth or heaven have known.

Grace flies before, and love attends

His steps wheree'er he goes;

Though none can see Him but His friends,

And they were once his foes.

He speaks; -- obedient to His call

Our warm affections move:

Did He but shine alike on all,

Then all alike would love.

Then love in every heart would reign,

And war would cease to roar;

And cruel and bloodthirsty men

Would thirst for blood no more.

Such Jesus is, and such His grace;

Oh, may He shine on you!

And tell him, when you see His face,

I long to see Him, too.

XXXV. Welcome Cross

'Tis my happiness below

Not to live without the cross,

But the Saviour's power to know,

Sanctifying every loss;

Trials must and will befall;

But with humble faith to see

Love inscribed upon them all,

This is happiness to me.

God in Israel sows the seeds

Of affliction, pain, and toil;

These spring up and choke the weeds

Which would else o'erspread the soil:

Trials make the promise sweet,

Trials give new life to prayer;

Trials bring me to His feet,

Lay me low, and keep me there.

Did I meet no trials here,

No chastisement by the way,

Might I not with reason fear

I should prove a castaway?

Bastards may escape the rod,

Sunk in earthly vain delight;

But the true-born child of God

Must not -- would not, if he might.

XXXVI. Afflictions Sanctified by the Word

Oh how I love Thy holy Word,

Thy gracious covenant, O Lord!

It guides me in the peaceful way;

I think upon it all the day.

What are the mines of shining wealth,

The strength of youth, the bloom of health!

What are all joys compared with those

Thine everlasting Word bestows!

Long unafflicted, undismay'd,

In pleasure's path secure I stray'd;

Thou mad'st me feel thy chast'ning rod,

And straight I turned unto my God.

What though it pierced my fainting heart,

I bless'd Thine hand that caused the smart:

It taught my tears awhile to flow,

But saved me from eternal woe.

Oh! hadst Thou left me unchastised,

Thy precepts I had still despised;

And still the snare in secret laid

Had my unwary feet betray'd.

I love Thee, therefore, O my God,

And breathe towards Thy dear abode;

Where, in Thy presence fully blest,

Thy chosen saints for ever rest.

XXXVII. Temptation

The billows swell, the winds are high,

Clouds overcast my wintry sky;

Out of the depths to Thee I call, --

My fears are great, my strength is small.

O Lord, the pilot's part perform,

And guard and guide me through the storm;

Defend me from each threatening ill,

Control the waves, -- say, "Peace! be still."

Amidst the roaring of the sea

My soul still hangs her hope on Thee;

Thy constant love, thy faithful care,

Is all that saves me from despair.

Dangers of every shape and name

Attend the followers of the Lamb,

Who leave the world's deceitful shore,

And leave it to return no more.

Though tempest-toss'd and half a wreck,

My Saviour through the floods I seek;

Let neither winds nor stormy main

Force back my shatter'd bark again.

XXXVIII. Looking Upwards in a Storm

God of my life, to Thee I call,

Afflicted at Thy feet I fall;

When the great water-floods prevail,

Leave not my trembling heart to fail!

Friend of the friendless and the faint,

Where should I lodge my deep complaint,

Where but with Thee, whose open door

Invites the helpless and the poor!

Did ever mourner plead with Thee,

And Thou refuse the mourner's plea?

Does not the word still fix'd remain,

That none shall seek Thy face in vain?

That were a grief I could not bear,

Didst Thou not hear and answer prayer:

But a prayer-hearing, answering God

Supports me under every load.

Fair is the lot that's cast for me;

I have an Advocate with Thee;

They whom the world caresses most

Have no such privilege to boast.

Poor though I am, despised, forgot,

Yet God, my God, forgets me not:

And he is safe, and must succeed,

For whom the Lord vouchsafes to plead.

XXXIX. The Valley of the Shadow of Death

My soul is sad, and much dismay'd;

See, Lord, what legions of my foes,

With fierce Apollyon at their head,

My heavenly pilgrimage oppose.

See, from the ever-burning lake,

How like a smoky cloud they rise!

With horrid blasts my soul they shake,

With storms of blasphemies and lies.

Their fiery arrows reach the mark,

My throbbing heart with anguish tear;

Each lights upon a kindred spark,

And finds abundant fuel there.

I hate the thought that wrongs the Lord;

Oh! I would drive it from my breast,

With Thy own sharp two-edged sword,

Far as the east is from the west.

Come, then, and chase the cruel host,

Heal the deep wounds I have received!

Nor let the power of darkness boast

That I am foil'd, and Thou art grieved!

XL. Peace after a Storm

When darkness long has veil'd my mind,

And smiling day once more appears,

Then, my Redeemer, then I find

The folly of my doubts and fears.

Straight I upbraid my wandering heart,

And blush that I should ever be

Thus prone to act so base a part,

Or harbour one hard thought of Thee!

Oh! let me then at length be taught

What I am still so slow to learn,

That God is love, and changes not,

Nor knows the shadow of a turn.

Sweet truth, and easy to repeat!

But when my faith is sharply tried,

I find myself a learner yet,

Unskilful, weak, and apt to slide.

But, O my Lord, one look from Thee

Subdues the disobedient will,

Drives doubt and discontent away,

And Thy rebellious worm is still.

Thou art as ready to forgive

As I am ready to repine;

Thou, therefore, all the praise receive;

Be shame and self-abhorrence mine.

XLI. Mourning and Longing

The Saviour hides His face;

My spirit thirsts to prove

Renew'd supplies of pardoning grace,

And never-fading love.

The favor'd souls who know

What glories shine in Him,

Pant for His presence as the roe

Pants for the living stream.

What trifles tease me now!

They swarm like summer flies!

They cleave to everything I do,

And swim before my eyes.

How dull the Sabbath day,

Without the Sabbath's Lord!

How toilsome then to sing and pray,

And wait upon the Word!

Of all the truths I hear,

How few delight my taste!

I glean a berry here and there,

But mourn the vintage past.

Yet let me (as I ought)

Still hope to be supplied;

No pleasure else is worth a thought,

Nor shall I be denied.

Though I am but a worm,

Unworthy of His care,

The Lord will my desire perform,

And grant me all my prayer.

Self-Acquaintance

Dear Lord! accept a sinful heart,

Which of itself complains,

And mourns, with much and frequent smart,

The evil it contains.

There fiery seeds of anger lurk,

Which often hurt my frame;

And wait but for the tempter's work,

To fan them to a flame.

Legality holds out a bribe

To purchase life from Thee;

And Discontent would fain prescribe

How Thou shalt deal with me.

While Unbelief withstands Thy grace,

And puts the mercy by,

Presumption, with a brow of brass,

Says, "Give me, or I die!"

How eager are my thoughts to roam,

In quest of what they love!

But ah! when duty calls them home,

How heavily they move!

Oh, cleanse me in a Saviour's blood,

Transform me by Thy power,

And make me Thy beloved abode,

And let me roam no more.

XLIII. Prayer for Patience

Lord, who hast suffer'd all for me,

My peace and pardon to procure,

The lighter cross I bear for Thee,

Help me with patience to endure.

The storm of loud repining hush;

I would in humble silence mourn;

Why should the unburnt, though burning bush,

Be angry as the crackling thorn?

Man should not faint at Thy rebuke,

Like Joshua falling on his face,

When the cursed thing that Achan took

Brought Israel into just disgrace.

Perhaps some golden wedge suppress'd,

Some secret sin offends my God;

Perhaps that Babylonish vest,

Self-righteousness, provokes the rod.

Ah! were I buffeted all day,

Mock'd, crown'd with thorns and spit upon,

I yet should have no right to say,

My great distress is mine alone.

Let me not angrily declare

No pain was ever sharp like mine,

Nor murmur at the cross I bear,

But rather weep, remembering Thine.

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