Olney Hymns in Pilgrim's Progress
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Newton included these hymns in his footnotes to the 1776 edition of Pilgrim's Progress commissioned by John Thornton. |
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The shining Light |
My former hopes are dead |
Olney Hymns, Book 3, Hymn 8, by Cowper |
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A welcome to Christian friends |
Kindred in Christ for his dear sake |
Olney Hymns, Book 2, Hymn 70, by Newton |
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The Lord of the Hill |
Believer attend, whoever thou art |
[not in Olney Hymns, author unknown] |
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The valley of the shadow of death |
My soul is sad and much dismayed |
Olney Hymns, Book 3, Hymn 20, by Cowper |
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The Pilgrim’s song |
From Egypt lately freed |
Olney Hymns, Book 3, Hymn 42, by Newton |
Book 3, Hymn 8
The shining Light
My former hopes are dead,
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.
Fore-runner of the sun, [Ps 130:6]
It marks the Pilgrim’s way;
I’ll gaze upon it while I run,
And watch the rising day.
[by William Cowper] [page 6 of Pilgrim's Progress] |
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Book 2, Hymn 70
A welcome to Christian friends
Kindred in Christ, for his dear sake,
A hearty welcome here receive;
May we together now partake
The joys which only he can give!
To you and us by grace ’tis given,
To know the Saviour’s precious name;
And shortly we shall meet in heaven,
Our hope, our way, our end, the same.
May he, by whose kind care we meet,
Send his good Spirit from above,
Make our communications sweet,
And cause our hearts to burn with love!
Forgotten be each worldly theme,
When Christians see each other thus;
We only wish to speak of him,
Who lived, and died, and reigns for us.
We’ll talk of all he did and said,
And suffered for us here below;
The path he marked for us to tread,
And what he’s doing for us now.
Thus, as the moments pass away,
We’ll love, and wonder, and adore;
And hasten on the glorious day,
When we shall meet to part no more.
[by John Newton] [page 72 of Pilgrim's Progress] |
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The Lord of the Hill
Believer attend, whoever thou art,
And join with a friend, in gladness of heart;
And let us endeavour with joy and good will
To praise now and ever the Lord of the Hill.
The hill that we climb is craggy and high,
And short is the time, and danger is nigh,
But Christ with his favour will comfort us still,
For he, our dear Saviour, is Lord of the Hill.
Though thousands arrayed against us appear,
We are not afraid, for Jesus is near;
Perhaps they may grieve us, but never shall kill,
For he who would save us is Lord of the Hill.
When Satan has spread his snare for our feet,
And now we are laid and caught in his net:
Then who to release us has favour or skill?
None, none but our Jesus, the Lord of the Hill.
Where now we abide, the land is quite dry,
But we are supplied with streams from on high;
Our strength is sustained by a life-giving rill,
And the spring is maintained by the Lord of the Hill.
Ere long we shall feast, and in the mean while
He gives us a taste, or a look, or a smile:
But joys without measure our spirits shall fill
When safe with our treasure, the Lord of the Hill.
[not in Olney Hymns, author unknown] [page 81 of Pilgrim's Progress] |
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Book 3, Hymn 20
The valley of the shadow of death
My soul is sad and much dismayed;
See, Lord, what legions of my foes,
With fierce Apollyon at their head,
My heavenly pilgrimage oppose!
See, from the over-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, [Ephesians 6:16]
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 powers of darkness boast
That I am foiled, and thou art grieved!
[by William Cowper] [page 91 of Pilgrim's Progress] |
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Book 3, Hymn 42
The Pilgrim’s song
From Egypt lately freed
By the Redeemer’s grace;
A rough and thorny path we tread,
In hopes to see his face.
The flesh dislikes the way,
But faith approves it well;
This only leads to endless day,
All others lead to hell.
The promised land of peace
Faith keeps in constant view;
How different from the wilderness
We now are passing through!
Here often from our eyes
Clouds hide the light divine;
There we shall have unclouded skies,
Our Sun will always shine.
Here griefs, and cares, and pains,
And fears, distress us sore;
But there eternal pleasure reigns,
And we shall weep no more.
Lord pardon our complaints,
We follow at thy call;
The joy, prepared for suffering saints,
Will make amends for all.
[by John Newton] [page 279 of Pilgrim's Progress] |
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