Olney Hymns (1840)/Book 1/Hymn 18
18.
The Golden Calf.—Exod. xxxii, 4, 31.
1 When Israel heard the fiery law
From Sinai's top proclaim'd,
Their hearts seem'd full of holy awe,
Their stubborn spirits tamed:
From Sinai's top proclaim'd,
Their hearts seem'd full of holy awe,
Their stubborn spirits tamed:
2 Yet, as forgetting all they knew,
Ere forty days were past,
With blazing Sinai still in view,
A molten calf they cast.
Ere forty days were past,
With blazing Sinai still in view,
A molten calf they cast.
3 Yea, Aaron, God's anointed priest.
Who on the mount had been,
He durst prepare the idol-beast,
And lead them on to sin!
Who on the mount had been,
He durst prepare the idol-beast,
And lead them on to sin!
4 Lord, what is man, and what are we,
To recompense thee thus?
In their offence our own we see—
Their story points at us.
To recompense thee thus?
In their offence our own we see—
Their story points at us.
5 From Mount Sinai we heard thee speak.
And from Mount Calv'ry too;
And yet to idols oft we seek,
While thou art in our view.
And from Mount Calv'ry too;
And yet to idols oft we seek,
While thou art in our view.
6. Some golden calf, or golden dream,
Some fancied creature-good,
Presumes to share the heart with Him
Who bought the whole with blood.
Some fancied creature-good,
Presumes to share the heart with Him
Who bought the whole with blood.
7 Lord, save us from our golden calves,
Our sin with grief we own;
We would no more be thine by halves,
But live to thee alone.
Our sin with grief we own;
We would no more be thine by halves,
But live to thee alone.