Olney Hymns (1840)/Book 1/Hymn 126
126.
The Good that I would do, I do not.—Rom. vii, 19.
1 I would, but cannot sing,—
Guilt has untuned my voice,
The serpent sin's envenom'd sting
Has poison'd all my joys.
Guilt has untuned my voice,
The serpent sin's envenom'd sting
Has poison'd all my joys.
2 I know the Lord is nigh,
And would, but cannot pray;
For Satan meets me when I try,
And frights my soul away.
And would, but cannot pray;
For Satan meets me when I try,
And frights my soul away.
3 I would, but can't repent,
Though I endeavour oft;
This stony heart can ne'er relent
Till Jesus make it soft.
Though I endeavour oft;
This stony heart can ne'er relent
Till Jesus make it soft.
4 I would, but cannot love,
Though woo'd by love divine:
No arguments have power to move
A soul so base as mine.
Though woo'd by love divine:
No arguments have power to move
A soul so base as mine.
5 I would, but cannot rest
In God's most holy will;
I know what he appoints is best,
Yet murmur at it still.
In God's most holy will;
I know what he appoints is best,
Yet murmur at it still.
6 O could I but believe!
Then all would easy be;
I would, but cannot—Lord, relieve;
My help must come from thee!
Then all would easy be;
I would, but cannot—Lord, relieve;
My help must come from thee!
7 But if indeed I would,
Though I can nothing do;
Yet the desire is something good,
For which my praise is due.
Though I can nothing do;
Yet the desire is something good,
For which my praise is due.
8 By nature prone to ill,
Till thine appointed hour,
I was as destitute of will,
As now I am of power.
Till thine appointed hour,
I was as destitute of will,
As now I am of power.
9 Wilt thou not crown at length
The work thou hast begun,
And with a will afford me strength
In all thy ways to run?
The work thou hast begun,
And with a will afford me strength
In all thy ways to run?