When the beloved disciple took

The words

1. 1

   Stanza 1. When the beloved disciple tookThe angels’ little open book,Which by the LORD’S command he eat,It tasted bitter after sweet.

2. 2

   Stanza 2. Thus when the gospel is embraced,At first ’tis sweeter to the tasteThan honey, or the honey–comb,But there’s a bitterness to come.

3. 3

   Stanza 3. What sweetness does the promise yield,When by the Spirit’s power sealed?The longing soul is filled with good,Nor feels a wish for other food.

4. 4

   Stanza 4. By these inviting tastes allured,We pass to what must be endured;For soon we find it is decreed,That bitter must to sweet succeed.

5. 5

   Stanza 5. When sin revives and shows its pow’r.When Satan threatens to devour,When GOD afflicts and men revile,We drag our steps with pain and toil.

6. 6

   Stanza 6. When thus deserted, tempest–tossed,The sense of former sweetness lost;We tremble lest we were deceivedIn thinking that we once believed.

7. 7

   Stanza 7. The LORD first makes the sweetness known,To win and fix us far his own;And though we now some bitter meet,We hope for everlasting sweet.

Olney Hymns (1779), Book 1, Hymn 141. John Newton. Public domain. CCEL transcription with modernized spelling. www.praylock.com/olney-hymns/1-141