Olney Hymns (1840)

by John Newton (1725-1807) and William Cowper (1731-1800)

For other versions of this work, see Olney Hymns.

• Introductory Essay
• Preface
• Book I. On Select Texts of Scripture
• Book II. On Occasional Subjects
• Book III. On the Progress and Changes of the Spiritual Life
• Poems

Index

TABLE OF FIRST LINES.

A BELIEVER free from care, . . . 171
Afflictions do not come alone, . . . 182
Afflictions, though they seem severe, . . 153
A garden contemplation suits, . . . 272
A glance from heaven, with sweet effect, . . 262
A shelter from the rain or wind, . . . 273
Ah ! what can I do, . . . . 285
Alas ! Elisha's servant cried, . . . 95
Alas ! by nature how depraved, . . . 213
A lion, though by nature wild, . . . 270
Almighty King ! whose wondrous hand, . . 349
Although on massy pillars built, . . . 248
Amazing grace ! (how sweet the sound !) . . 95
Approach, my soul, the mercy-seat, . . . 291
As birds their infant brood protect, . . . 122
As needles point towards the pole, . . . 267
As once for Jonah, so the Lord, . . . 125
As parched in the barren sands, . . . 118
As some tall rock amidst the waves, . . 168
As the serpent raised by Moses, . . . 113
As the sun's enlivening eye, . . . 251
As when the weary traveler gains, . . . 331
A word from Jesus calms the sea, . . . 136
A worldling spent each day, . . . 154

Before Elisha's gate, . . . . 93
Begone, unbelief, . . . . . 312
Behold the throne of grace, . . . 87
Beneath the tyrant Satan's yoke, . . . 210
Beside the gospel pool, . . . .160
Bestow, dear Lord, upon our youth, . . 196
Be still, my heart! these anxious cares, . . 316
Bitter, indeed, the waters are, . . . 69
Bleak winter is subdued at length, . . . 216
Blinded in youth by Satan's arts, . . . 276
Breathe from the gentle south, O Lord, . . 290
By various maxims, forms, and rules, . . 181
By faith in Christ I walk with God, . . 60
By the poor widow s oil and meal, . . . 91
By whom was David taught, . . .72

C

Cheer up, my soul, there is a mercy-seat, . . 291
Chief Shepherd of thy chosen sheep, . . 233
Come, my soul, thy suit prepare, . . . 86
Confirm the hope thy word allows, . . 356
Constrain d by their Lord to embark, . . 162
Could the creatures help or ease us, . . 142
Courage, my soul ! behold the prize, . . 255

Darkness overspreads us here, . . . 175
Day of judgment, day of wonders, . . . 256
Dear Lord ! accept a sinful heart, . . . 203
Destruction's dangerous road, . . . 345
Does it not grief and wonder move, . . 200
Does the gospel-word proclaim, . . . 293

Elijah's example declares, . . . 90
Elisha, struck with grief and awe, . . . 205
Encouraged by thy word, . . . . 130
Ensnared too long my heart has been, . . 208
Ere God had built the mountains, . . 105

Far from the world, O Lord, I flee, . . 320
"Father, forgive," the Saviour said, . . 158
Father of angels and of men, . . . 361
Fervent persevering prayers, . . . 170
Fierce passions discompose the mind, . . 178
Fix my heart and eyes on thine, . . . 337
Forest beasts, that live by prey, . . . 309
For mercies countless as the sands, . . 103
From Egypt lately freed, . . . . 317
From pole to pole let others roam, . . 120
From Sheba a distant report, . . . 88

Gladness was spread through Israel's host, . . 232
Glorious things of thee are spoken, . . . 112
Glory to God, the Father's name, . . . 361
God gives his mercies to be spent, . . . 108
God, with one piercing glance, looks through, . 257
God moves in a mysterious way, . . . 294
God of my life, to thee I call, . . . 297
Grace, triumphant in the throne, . . . 344
Gracious Lord, our children see, . . . 199

Happy are they to whom the Lord, . . . 230
Hark, my soul ! it is the Lord, . . . 166
Hark ! how Time s wide sounding bell, . . 193
Happy the birth where grace presides, . . 332

Heal us, Emmanuel, here we are, . . 70
Hear what God the Lord hath spoken, . . 117
Hear what the Lord, the great Amen, . . 186
He who on earth as man was known, . . 111
Here, at Bethesda's pool, the poor, . . 161
His master taken from his head, . . . 253
Holy Lord God ! I love thy truth, . . 335
Honour and happiness unite, . . . 324
Honey though the bee prepares, . . . 109
How bless'd the righteous are, . . . 75
How bless'd thy creature is, O God, . . 319
How David, when by sin deceived, . . 84
How hurtful was the choice of Lot, . . 60
How kind the good Samaritan, . . . 143
How lost was my condition, . . . 114
How soon the Saviour's gracious call, . . 347
How sweet the name of Jesus sounds, . . 110
How tedious and tasteless the hours, . . 100
How welcome to the saints, when press'd, . 228
Hungry and faint and poor, . . . 357

"I am," saith Christ, "your glorious Head," . 164
I ask'd the Lord that I might grow, . . 311
If for a time the air be calm, . . . 265
If Paul in Caesar's court must stand, . . 173
If Solomon for wisdom pray'd, . . 86
If the Lord our leader be, . . . 65
If to Jesus for relief, . . . . 314
Incarnate God ! the soul that knows, . . 101
In every object here I see, . . . 364
In evil long I took delight, . . . 236
In mercy, not in wrath, rebuke, . . 99
In themselves as weak as worms, 242
In vain our fancy strives to paint, . . 252
Israel in ancient days, . . . . 179
I thirst, but not as once I did, . . . 333
I was a grov'ling creature once, . . .324
I will praise thee every day, . . .110
I would but cannot sing, . . .174


Jesus Christ, the Lord's Anointed, . . 127
Jesus, to what didst thou submit, . . 159
Jesus, who bought us with his blood, . . 207
Jesus, whose blood so freely stream'd, . . 77
Jesus, where'er thy people meet, . . 227
Jesus is mine ! I m now prepared, . .359

 
John, in vision, saw the day, . . . . . 258
Joy is a fruit that will not grow, . . . . 96

Kindle, Saviour, in my heart, . . . . . 304
Kindred in Christ, for his dear sake, . . . . 250

Legion was my name by nature, . . . . 141
Let hearts and tongues unite, . . . . . 255
Let me dwell on Golgotha, . . . . . 238
Let us adore the grace that seeks, . . . . 206
Let us love and sing and wonder, . . . . 349
Let worldly minds the world pursue, . . . . 332
Lord, my soul with pleasure springs, . . . 323
Lord, thou hast won, at length I yield, . . . 169
Lord, who hast suffer'd all for me, . . . . 305
Lord, what is man ! extremes how wide, . . . 350

Manna to Israel well supplied, . . . . . 71
Martha her love and joy express'd, . . . . 149
Mary to her Saviour's tomb, . . . . . 165
May the grace of Christ our Saviour, . . . . 360
Mercy, O thou Son of David, . . . . . 141
My barns are full, my stores increase, . . . 151
My former hopes are fled, . . . . . . 288
My God ! how perfect are thy ways, . . . . 119
My God ! till I received thy stroke, . . . . 119
My harp untuned and laid aside, . . . . 235
My soul shall bless the Lord of all, . . . . 222
My soul once had its plenteous years, . . . 67
My soul this curious house of clay, . . . . 254
My soul is beset, . . . . . . . 288
My soul is sad and much dismay'd, . . . . 298

Nay, I cannot let thee go, . . . . . 66
No strength of nature can suffice, . . . . 334
No words can declare, . . . . . . 279
Not to Sinai's dreadful blaze, . . . . 357
Now, gracious Lord, thine arm reveal, . . .195
Now let us join with hearts and tongues, . . 222
Now may fervent prayer arise, . . . . 196
Now may the Lord reveal his face, . . . . 352
Now, Lord, inspire the preacher's heart, . . . 356
Now may He who from the dead, . . . . 359

Of all the gifts thine hand bestows, . . . . 348
Often thy public means of grace, . . . . 358
Oft as the bell, with solemn toll, . . . . 253
Oft as the leper's case I read, . . . . 132
Oft in vain the voice of truth, . . . . 194
O God, whose favourable eye, . . . . 339

O David's Son and David,s Lord, . . . . 206
O Lord, our languid souls inspire, . . . . 226
O Lord, how vile am I, . . . . . . 287
O Lord, my best desire fulfill, . . . . . 305
O thou, at whose almighty word, . . . . 204
O happy they who know the Lord, . . . . 229
O speak that gracious word again, . . . . 326
Oh! for a closer walk with God, . . . . 59
Oh! may the power which melts the rock, . . 246
O how I love thy holy word, . . . . . 295
Once a woman silent stood, . . . . . 147
Once on a time a paper kite, . . . . 363
Once perishing in blood I lay, . . . . 121
Once, while we aim'd at Zion's songs, . . . 231
On man, in his own image made, . . . . 57
On the same flower we often see, . . . . 268
One awful word which Jesus spoke, . . . . 146
One glance of thine, eternal Lord, . . . . 317
One there is, above all others, . . . . . 106
Oppress'd with unbelief and sins, . . . . 176
Our Lord, who knows full well, . . . . 155

Pensive, doubting, fearful heart, . . . . . 115
Physician of my sin-sick soul, . . . . . 133
Pleasing spring again is here, . . . . . 217
Poor Esau repented too late, . . . . . 64
Poor sinners ! little do they think, . . . . 124
Poor, weak, and worthless though I am, . . . 85
Prayer an answer will obtain, . . . . . 137
Preachers may, from Ezekiel's case, . . . 201
Precious Bible ! what a treasure, . . . . 243
Prepare a thankful song, . . . . . . 353

Quiet, Lord, my froward heart, . . . . 336

Refreshed by the bread and wine, . . . . 240
Rejoice, believer, in the Lord, . . . . . 351
Remember us, we pray thee, Lord, . . . . 357
Return to bless my waiting eyes, . . . . 307

Safely through another week, . . . . . . 223
Salvation! what a glorious plan, . . . . 352
Saved by blood, I live to tell, . . . . . 327
Saviour, shine and cheer my soul, . . . . 98
Saviour, visit thy plantation, . . . . . 233
See Aaron, God's anointed priest, . . . . 74
See, another year is gone ! . . . . . 191
See, how rude winter's icy hand, . . . . 214
See, the corn again in ear ! . . . . . 220
See the gloomy gathering cloud, . . . . 247

See, the world for youth prepares, . . . . 275
Shall men pretend to pleasure, . . . . 282
Sight, hearing, feeling, taste, and smell, . . . 318
"Simon, beware," the Saviour said, . . . . 157
Sinner, art thou still secure? 283
Sinners, hear the Saviour s call, . . . . . 284
Sin, when view'd by Scripture light, . . . . 344
Sin enslaved me many years, . . . . . 335
Sin has undone our wretched race, . . . . 198
Some author (no great matter who), . . . . 364
Sometimes a light surprises, . . . . . 322
Son of God, thy people shield! . . . . 125
Sovereign grace has power alone, . . . . 159
Stop, poor sinner! stop and think, . . . . 281
Strange and mysterious is my life, . . . . 177
Supported by the word, . . . . . . 123
Sweet was the time when first I felt, . . . 97
Sweeter sounds than music knows, . . . . 221

Ten thousand talents once I owed, . . . . 338
That was a wonder-working word, . . . . 259
That man no guard or weapon needs, . . . 102
The church a garden is, . . . . . . 151
The God who once to Israel spoke, . . . 203
The grass and flowers which clothe the field, . . 219
The Lord, our salvation and light, . . . . 224
The Spirit breathes upon the word, . . . . 243
The gathering clouds, with aspect dark, . . . 244
The book of nature open lies . . . . . 260
The moon in silver glory shone, . . . . 263
The moon has but a borrow'd light, . . . . 264
The ice and snow we lately saw, . . . . 267
The subtle spider often weaves, . . . . 269
The Saviour calls his people sheep . . . . 271
The water stood like walls of brass, . . . . 274
The billows swell, the winds are high, . . . 296
The Saviour hides his face! . . . . . 301
The new-born child of gospel grace, . . . . 339
The Lord receives his highest praise, . . . . 341
The wishes that the sluggard frames, . . . . 346
The saints Emmanuel's portion are, . . . . 359
The peace which God alone reveals, . . . . 360
The Father we adore, . . . . . . 361
The castle of the human heart, . . . . . 150
The evils that beset our path, . . . . . 107
The kine unguided went, . . . . . 81
The Lord will happiness divine, . . . . 116
The Lord proclaims his grace abroad! . . . 122
The lion that on Samson roar'd, . . . . 79
The manna, favour'd Israel's meat, . . . . 72

The message first to Smyrna sent, . . . 184
The prophets sons in times of old, . . . . 94
The Saviour! what a noble flame, . . . . 237
The saints should never be dismay'd, . . . . 61
The Shunammite, oppress'd with grief, . . . 200
The signs which God to Gideon gave, . . . 78
The word of Christ, our Lord, . . . . . 180
There is a fountain fill'd with blood, . . . . 129
This is the feast of heavenly wine, . . . . 236
Though Jericho pleasantly stood, . . . . 92
Though in the outward church below, . . . 135
Though cloudy skies and northern blasts, . . . 215
Though troubles assail, . . . . . . 62
Though the morn may be serene, . . . . 218
Though small the drops of falling rain, . . . 266
Though sore beset with guiit and fear, . . . 308
Thus saith the Lord to Ephesus, . . . . 183
Thus saith the Holy One and true, . . . . 185
Thy mansion is the Christian's heart, . . . 145
Thy message by the preacher seal, . . . 221
Thy promise, Lord, and thy command, . . . 356
Time, with an unwearied hand . . . . . 190
Time, by moments, steals away, . . . . . 192
Tis a point I long to know, . . . . . 167
Tis my happiness below, . . . . . 295
Tis past— the dreadful stormy night, . . . 298
To keep the lamp alive, . . . . . 343
To tell the Saviour all my wants, . . . . 321
To thee our wants are known, . . . . 360
To those who know the Lord I speak, . . . 292
Too many, Lord, abuse thy grace, . . . . 342

Unbelief the soul dismays, . . . . . . 315
Uncertain how the way to find, . . . . 310
Unless the Lord had been my stay, . . . . 299

Wearied by day with toils and cares, . . . . 249
We seek a rest beyond the skies, . . . . 359
What a mournful life is mine, . . . . . 104
What contradictions meet, . . . . . 210
What thousands never knew the road, . . . 342
What think you of Christ? is the test, . . . 138
What various hindrances we meet, . . . . 241
When Adam fell he quickly lost, . . . . 58
When first to make my heart his own, . . . 81
When first my soul enlisted, . . . . . 82
When Hannah, press d with grief, . . . . 79
When Jesus claims the sinner's heart, . . . 133
When Joseph his brethren beheld, . . . . 68
When Israel, by divine command, . . . . 239

 
When Israel's tribes were parch'd with thirst, . . 176
When Israel heard the fiery law, . . . . 73
When Israel was from Egypt freed, . . . . 102
When Joshua, by God s command, . . . . 76
When Peter boasted, soon he fell, . . . . 140
When sinners utter boasting words, . . . . 129
When the disciples cross'd the lake, . . . . 143
When the apostle wonders wrought, . . . . 172
When descending from the sky, . . . . 139
When any turn from Zion's way, . . . . 163
When the beloved disciple took, . . . . 187
When Peter through the tedious night, . . . 197
When Moses waved his mystic rod, . . . . 202
When Paul was parted from his friends, . . . 212
When on the cross my Lord I see, . . . . 236
When the sun, with cheerful beams, . . . . 261
When a black o'erspreading cloud, . . . . 261
When slumber seals our weary eyes, . . . . 274
When darkness long has veil'd my mind, . . . 300
When my prayers are a burden and task, . . . 302
When my Saviour, my Shepherd, is near, . . . 306
When the poor prisoner through a grate, . . 310
When the wounded spirit hears, . . . . 329
When Hagar found the bottle spent, . . . . 330
While with ceaseless course the sun, . . . . 189
While Joshua led the armed bands, . . . . 247
While I lived without the Lord, . . . . 328
Why should I fear the darkest hour, . . . . 321
With Satan, my accuser, near, . . . . . 126
Winter has a joy for me, . . . . . 350
With Israel's God who can compare, . . . . 358
Write to Sardis, saith the Lord, . . . . 184
Ye saints on earth, ascribe, with heaven's high host, . 362
Ye sons of earth, prepare the plough, . . . . 134
Yes! since God himself has said it . . . . 325
Zaccheus climb'd the tree, . . . . . 156
Zeal is that pure and heavenly flame, . . . . 340
Zion! the city of our God, . . . . . 209