Olney Hymns (1840)/Book 1/Hymn 16
16.
Manna hoarded.—Exod. xvi, 20.
1 The manna, favour'd Israel's meat,
Was gather'd day by day;
When all the host was served, the heat
Melted the rest away.
Was gather'd day by day;
When all the host was served, the heat
Melted the rest away.
2 In vain to hoard it up they tried
Against to-morrow came;
It then bred worms and putrified,
And proved their sin and shame.
Against to-morrow came;
It then bred worms and putrified,
And proved their sin and shame.
3 'Twas daily bread, and would not keep,
But must be still renewed;
Faith should not want a hoard or heap,
But trust the Lord for food.
But must be still renewed;
Faith should not want a hoard or heap,
But trust the Lord for food.
4 The truths by which the soul is fed
Must thus be had afresh;
For notions resting in the head
Will only feed the flesh:
Must thus be had afresh;
For notions resting in the head
Will only feed the flesh:
5 However true, they have no life
Or unction to impart;
They breed the worms of pride and strife,
But cannot cheer the heart.
Or unction to impart;
They breed the worms of pride and strife,
But cannot cheer the heart.
6 Nor can the best experience past
The life of faith maintain;
The brightest hope will faint at last
Unless supplied again.
The life of faith maintain;
The brightest hope will faint at last
Unless supplied again.
7 Dear Lord, while we in prayer are found,
Do thou the manna give;
Oh let it fall on all around,
That we may eat and live!
Do thou the manna give;
Oh let it fall on all around,
That we may eat and live!