Olney Hymn 47: The Hidden Life
William Cowper 1731 (Berkhamsted) – 1800 (Dereham)
To tell the Saviour all my wants,
How pleasing is the task!
Nor less to praise Him when He grants
Beyond what I can ask.
My laboring spirit vainly seeks
To tell but half the joy,
With how much tenderness He speaks,
And helps me to reply.
Nor were it wise, nor should I choose,
Such secrets to declare;
Like precious wines their taste they lose,
Exposed to open air.
But this with boldness I proclaim,
Nor care if thousands hear,
Sweet is the ointment of His name,
Not life is half so dear.
And can you frown, my former friends,
Who knew what once I was,
And blame the song that thus commends
The Man who bore the cross?
Trust me, I draw the likeness true,
And not as fancy paints;
Such honor may He give to you,
For such have all His saints.
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Submitted on May 13, 2011
Modified on March 05, 2023
- 44 sec read
- 43 Views
Quick analysis:
Scheme | XAXA BXBX CDCD EXEX FXFX GHGH |
---|---|
Closest metre | Iambic trimeter |
Characters | 749 |
Words | 147 |
Stanzas | 6 |
Stanza Lengths | 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4 |
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"Olney Hymn 47: The Hidden Life" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 20 Sep. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/39979/olney-hymn-47:-the-hidden-life>.
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