Begone, unbelief, my Saviour is near.
Though troubles assail and dangers affright.
Like Watts, Doddridge, Beddome, and many others, Newton wrote his
hymns for use after preaching or for some special occasion, such as
the opening of a room at the Great House for prayer-meetings and
children’s services. It was for this event that Cowper wrote
Jesus, where’er Thy people meet,
and Newton a less effective hymn—
Dear Shepherd of Thy people, hear,
Thy presence now display;
As Thou hast given a place for prayer,
So give us hearts to pray.
I do not suppose that the Olney hymns were often selected as a
hymn-book for congregational use. The range of subjects is too narrow,
and is so largely affected by the circumstances of composition, the
sadness of Cowper’s prolonged illness, and the needs of the rustic
worshippers, that it is, as a whole, more suited to private devotion
than public worship, though from it may be gathered some of the most
beautiful of the songs of Zion.
From twelve to twenty of the Olney hymns have won a permanent place in
our hymn-books, but what is left is very far from being ‘empty chaff
well meant for grain.’ Indeed, there are very few hymn-books of the
eighteenth century so _interesting_ as this. When you have picked out
of Watts or Doddridge their best hymns, you find it a wearisome and
profitless task to plod through the remainder. An outrageous rhyme is
a pleasing break in the dull monotony of the sentiment, but the Olney
hymns, even at their feeblest, have life and vigour, and are often
provokingly easy to remember. Their influence on modern hymnody has
been all in favour of the expression of personal, individual
experience, in which regard they may not unfairly be compared with
many of the sublimest Psalms.
In Cowper’s verses there are often references to his own depressed and
anxious state of mind, and pathetic prayers for deliverance or
suggestions of comfortable thoughts.
She, too, who touched Thee in the press,
And healing virtue stole,
Was answered, ‘Daughter, go in peace,
Thy faith hath made thee whole.’
Concealed amid the gathering throng,
She would have shunned Thy view;
And if her faith was firm and strong,
Had strong misgivings too.
Like her with hopes and fears we come,
To touch Thee, if we may:
Oh! send us not despairing home,
Send none unhealed away.