Tag: Olney Hymns

A Riddle

One of my most viewed posts comes from people looking for the answer to this riddle. Can you solve it without finding the answer?

GraceSyllables

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I am just two and two, I am warm, I am cold,
And the parent of numbers that cannot be told.
I am lawful, unlawful — a duty, a fault,
I am often sold dear, good for nothing when bought;
An extraordinary boon, and a matter of course,
And yielded with pleasure when taken by force.

William Cowper (1780)

Note: I’ve provided the answer in the Comments

Behind the lines

William Cowper (pronounced Cooper) had severe bouts of depression throughout his life, but the answer to the riddle is not typically thought of as depressing.

Cowper (1731-1800) was a poet and hymn writer and his most famous hymns are, “There Is a Fountain Filled with Blood,” “O For a Closer Walk with God,” and “God Moves in a Mysterious Way.”

He was good friends with John Newton (1725-1807) and included this riddle in a letter he wrote to him. Their joint hymns…

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How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds

Of the many hymns written by John Newton (1725-1807), I think this is one of the sweetest. Listed as Hymn 57 in the Olney Hymns Collection, Newton titled it The Name of Jesus, but as with many hymns most people recognize it by the first line. It was also included at the end of his autobiography, “Out of the Depths”, but it starts with the second verse.

I like a contemporary, Nashville version, performed by Matthew Perryman Jones. He doesn’t sing the complete hymn, but I think you’ll enjoy it more than the classical versions you may find.

How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds

How sweet the name of Jesus sounds,
In a believer’s ear?
It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds,
And drives away his fear.

It makes the wounded spirit whole,
And calms the troubled breast;
’Tis Manna to the hungry soul,
And to the weary rest.

Dear name! the rock on which I build,
My shield and hiding place;
My never–failing treas’ry filled,
With boundless stores of grace.

By thee my prayers acceptance gain,
Although with sin defiled,
Satan accuses me in vain,
And I am owned a child.

Jesus! my Shepherd, Husband, Friend,
My Prophet, Priest, and King;
My Lord, my Life, my Way, my End,
Accept the praise I bring.

Weak is the effort of my heart,
And cold my warmest thought;
But when I see thee as thou art,
I’ll praise thee as I ought.

’Till then I would thy love proclaim,
With every fleeting breath,
And may the music of thy name,
Refresh my soul in death.

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The LORD Will Provide

John Newton (1725-1807) wrote the below and it’s listed as Hymn 7 in the Olney Hymns Collection. He wrote it in 10,10,11,11 meter, and it’s a great reminder and encouragement for us to trust the Great Provider.

Jehovah Jireh – The LORD Will Provide.

Though troubles assail and dangers affright,
Though friends should all fail and foes all unite;
Yet one thing secures us, whatever betide,
The scripture assures us, the Lord will provide.

The birds without barn or storehouse are fed,
From them let us learn to trust for our bread:
His saints, what is fitting, shall ne’er be denied,
So long as ’tis written, the Lord will provide.

We may, like the ships, by tempest be tossed,
On perilous deeps, but cannot be lost.
Though Satan enrages the wind and the tide,
The promise engages, the Lord will provide.

His call we obey like Abram of old,
Not knowing our way, but faith makes us bold;
For though we are strangers we have a good Guide,
And trust in all dangers, the Lord will provide.

When Satan appears to stop up our path,
And fill us with fears, we triumph by faith;
He cannot take from us, though oft he has tried,
This heart–cheering promise, the Lord will provide.

He tells us we’re weak, our hope is in vain,
The good that we seek we ne’er shall obtain,
But when such suggestions our spirits have plied,
This answers all questions, the Lord will provide.

No strength of our own, or goodness we claim,
Yet since we have known the Savior’s great name;
In this our strong tower for safety we hide,
The Lord is our power, the Lord will provide.

When life sinks apace and death is in view,
This word of his grace shall comfort us through:
No fearing or doubting with Christ on our side,
We hope to die shouting, the Lord will provide.

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