by John Newton
How welcome to the saints, when pressed
With six days noise, and care, and toil,
Is the returning day of rest,
Which hides them from the world awhile?
Now, from the throng withdrawn away,
They seem to breathe a different air;
Composed and softened by the day,
All things another aspect wear.
How happy if their lot is cast,
Where statedly the gospel sounds
The word is honey to their taste,
Renews their strength, and heals their wounds!
Though pinched with poverty at home,
With sharp afflictions daily fed;
It makes amends, if they can come
To GOD'S own house for heav'nly bread!
With joy they hasten to the place,
Where they their Savior oft have met;
And while they feast upon his grace,
Their burdens and their griefs forget.
This favored lot, my friends, is ours,
May we the privilege improve;
And find these consecrated hours,
Sweet earnests of the joys above!
We thank thee for thy day, O Lord,
Here we thy promised presence seek;
Open thine hand, with blessings stored,
And give us Manna for the week.
~from Olney Hymns, published this day in 1779
This is a fantastic hymn. Thanks for sharing it!
ReplyDeleteBTW, where did you get your copy of Olney Hymns?
I don't have a hard copy; I'm using a pdf file I found on Christian Classics Ethereal Library a few years ago. It contains the complete hymnal, and the table of contents links to the hymns. CCEL used to be a free resource, but now you have to create an account with them and pay a small fee for downloads. I think the price for a pdf of Olney Hymns is $2.95. You can still view the hymnal for free in html or plain text. For that price I recommend it. It's a handy file.
ReplyDeleteUsed hard copies might be found on Amazon. You can also go to the Cooper and Newton Museum website and order a facsimile copy of the 1779 edition from them. I'm not sure of the cost in US dollars. It's listed as £15.95 for a hardback. I think that's around $27.00, but that doesn't include shipping and other charges.
I hope to get a hard copy someday.
Thanks Tim. I've already put this to good use.
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