Olney Hymns,

I. WALKING WITH GOD. Gen. v. 24.

OH! for a closer walk with God,
A calm and heavenly frame;
A light to shine upon the road
That leads me to the Lamb!
Where is the blessedness I knew
When first I saw the Lord ?
Where is the soul-refreshing view
Of Jesus and his word?

What peaceful hours I once enjoyed!
How sweet their memory still!
But they have left an aching void,
The world can never fill.

Return, O holy Dove, return!
Sweet messenger of rest!

I hate the sins that made thee mourn,
And drove thee from my breast.

The dearest idol I have known,
Whate'er that idol be,

Help me to tear it from thy throne,
And worship only thee.

So shall my walk be close with God,
Calm and serene my frame;

So purer light shall mark the road
That leads me to the Lamb.

II. JEHOVAH-JIREH.

THE LORD WILL PROVIDE.

Gen. xxii. 14.

THE saints should never be dismay'd,
Nor sink in hopeless fear;

For when they least expect His aid,

The Saviour will appear.

This Abraham found: he raised the knife;

God saw, and said, "Forbear!

Yon ram shall yield his meaner life;

Behold the victim there."

Once David seem'd Saul's certain prey,
But hark! the foe's at hand ;*
Saul turns his arms another way,

To save the invaded land.

When Jonah sunk beneath the wave,
He thought to rise no more;†
But God prepared a fish to save,
And bear him to the shore.

Blest proofs of power and grace divine,

That meet us in His Word!
May every deep-felt care of mine

Be trusted with the Lord.

Wait for His seasonable aid,
And though it tarry, wait:
The promise may be long delay'd,
But cannot come too late.

III. JEHOVAH-ROPHI. I AM THE LORD THAT HEALETH THEE.
Exod. xv. 26.

HEAL us, Emmanuel! here we are,
Waiting to feel Thy touch:
Deep-wounded souls to Thee repair,
And, Saviour, we are such.

Our faith is feeble, we confess,
We faintly trust Thy word;
But wilt Thou pity us the less?

Be that far from Thee, Lord!
Remember him who once applied,
With trembling, for relief;

"Lord, I believe," with tears he cried,‡
"Oh, help my unbelief!"

She too, who touch'd Thee in the press,
And healing virtue stole,

Was answer'd, "Daughter, go in peace,§
Thy faith hath made thee whole."
Conceal'd amid the gathering throng,
She would have shunn'd Thy view;
And if her faith was firm and strong,
Had strong misgivings too.

† Jonah i. 17.

* 1 Sam. xxiii. 27.

Mark ix. 24.

§ Mark v. 34.

Like her, with hopes and fears we come,
To touch Thee, if we may;

Oh! send us not despairing home.
Send none unheal'd away!

IV. JEHOVAH-NISSI. THE LORD MY BANNE
Exod. xvii. 15.

By whom was David taught
To aim the deadly blow,
When he Goliath fought,

And laid the Gittite low?

Nor sword nor spear the stripling took,
But chose a pebble from the brook.

"Twas Israel's God and King
Who sent him to the fight;
Who gave him strength to sling,
And skill to aim aright.

Ye feeble saints, your strength endures,
Because young David's God is yours.

Who order'd Gideon forth,

To storm the invaders' camp,
With arms of little worth,

A pitcher and a lamp ?*

The trumpets made his coming known
And all the host was overthrown.

Oh! I have seen the day,

When with a single word,

God helping me to say,

"My trust is in the Lord,"

My soul hath quell'd a thousand foes,
Fearless of all that could oppose.

But unbelief, self-will,

Self-righteousness, and pride,

How often do they steal

My weapon from my side!

Yet David's Lord, and Gideon's friend,
Will help his servant to the end.

V. JEHOVAH-SHALOM. THE LORD SEND PEACE.
Judges vi. 24.

JESUS! whose blood so freely stream'd
To satisfy the law's demand;

By Thee from guilt and wrath redeem'd,
Before the Father's face I stand.

To reconcile offending man,
Make Justice drop her angry rod;
What creature could have form'd the plan,
Or who fulfil it but a God?

No drop remains of all the curse,

For wretches who deserved the whole;
No arrows dipt in wrath to pierce
The guilty, but returning soul.

Peace by such means so dearly bought,
What rebel could have hoped to see?
Peace, by his injured Sovereign wrought,
His Sovereign fasten'd to a tree.

Now, Lord, Thy feeble worm prepare!
For strife with earth and hell begins;
Confirm and gird me for the war;

They hate the soul that hates his sins.

Let them in horrid league agree!

They may assault, they may distress;
But cannot quench Thy love to me,
Nor rob me of the Lord my peace.

66

'When, like a tent to dwell in,

He spread the skies abroad,
And swathed about the swelling
Of Ocean's mighty flood;
He wrought by weight and measure,
And I was with Him then :
Myself the Father's pleasure,
And mine, the sons of men."

Thus Wisdom's words discover
Thy glory and Thy grace,
Thou everlasting lover
Of our unworthy race!

D

Thy gracious eye survey'd us
Ere stars were seen above;
In wisdom thou hast made us,
And died for us in love.

And couldst Thou be delighted
With creatures such as we,
Who, when we saw Thee, slighted,
And nail'd Thee to a tree?
Unfathomable wonder,
And mystery divine!

The voice that speaks in thunder,
Says, "Sinner, I am thine!"

VII. VANITY OF THE WORLD.

GOD gives His mercies to be spent ;
Your hoard will do your soul no good;
Gold is a blessing only lent,

Repaid by giving others food.

The world's esteem is but a bribe,

To buy their peace you sell your own;

The slave of a vainglorious tribe,

Who hate you while they make you known.

The joy that vain amusements give,
Oh! sad conclusion that it brings!
The honey of a crowded hive,

Defended by a thousand stings.

down

"Tis thus the world rewards the fools
That live upon her treacherous smiles:
She leads them blindfold by her rules,
And ruins all whom she beguiles.
God knows the thousands who go
From pleasure into endless woe;
And with a long despairing groan
Blaspheme their Maker as they go.
Oh fearful thought! be timely wise;
Delight but in a Saviour's charms,
And God shall take you to the skies,
Embraced in everlasting arms.

VIII. O LORD, I WILL PRAISE THEE. Isaiah xii. 1.

I WILL praise Thee every day,
Now Thine anger's turn'd away;
Comfortable thoughts arise

From the bleeding sacrifice.