Olney Hymns (1840)/Book 1/Hymn 44

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44.
The Change.[1]

1 Saviour, shine, and cheer my soul;
Bid my dying hopes revive;
Make my wounded spirit whole;
Far away the tempter drive;
Speak the word, and set me free;
Let me live alone to thee.

2 Shall I sigh and pray in vain,
Wilt thou still refuse to hear;
Wilt thou not return again;
Must I yield to black despair?
Thou hast taught my heart to pray,
Canst thou turn thy face away?

3 Once I thought my mountain strong,
Firmly fix'd, no more to move;
Then thy grace was all my song,
Then my soul was fill'd with love:
Those were happy golden days,
Sweetly spent in pray'r and praise.

4 When my friends have said, "Beware,
Soon or late you'll find a change,"
I could see no cause for fear,
Vain their caution seem'd and strange:
Not a cloud obscured my sky,
Could I think a tempest nigh?

5 Little then myself I knew,
Little thought of Satan's power;
Now I find their words were true,
Now I feel the stormy hour!
Sin has put my joys to flight,
Sin has changed my day to night.

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6 Satan asks, and mocks my woe,
"Boaster, where is now your God?"
Silence, Lord, this cruel foe;
Let him know I'm bought with blood;
Tell him, since I know thy name,
Though I change, thou art the same.

  1. ↑ Book ii, Hymn 34; and Book iii, Hymn 86.
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