Poem by William Cowper

Olney Hymn 48. Joy and Peace in Believing

Sometimes a light surprises
    The Christian while he sings; 
It is the Lord who rises
    With healing on His wings; 
When comforts are declining,
    He grants the soul again 
A season of clear shining,
    To cheer it after rain.

In holy contemplation
    We sweetly then pursue 
The theme of God's salvation,
    And find it ever new; 
Set free from present sorrow,
    We cheerfully can say, 
E'en let the unknown to-morrow
    Bring with it what it may!

It can bring with it nothing,
    But He will bear us through; 
Who gives the lilies clothing,
    Will clothe His people too; 
Beneath the spreading heavens
    No creature but is fed; 
And He who feeds the ravens
    Will give His children bread.

Though vine nor fig tree neither
    Their wonted fruit shall bear, 
Though all the field should wither,
    Nor flocks nor herds be there: 
Yet God the same abiding,
    His praise shall tune my voice; 
For, while in Him confiding,
    I cannot but rejoice.

1. Olney Hymn 4. Jehovah-Nissi. The Lord My Banner
2. Olney Hymn 17. The House of Prayer
3. Olney Hymn 13. The Covenant
4. An Ode, on Reading Mr. Richardson's History of Sir Charles Grandison
5. Olney Hymn 55. The Heart Healed and Changed by Mercy

Print

1733 Views

Last Poems

To Russian version