The words
Stanza 1. Shall men pretend to pleasureWho never knew the LORD?Can all the worldling’s treasureTrue peace of mind afford?They shall obtain this jewelIn what their hearts desire,When they by adding fuelCan quench the flame of fire.
Stanza 2. Till you can bid the ocean,When furious tempests roar,Forget its wonted motion,And rage, and swell, no more:In vain your expectationTo find content in sin;Or freedom from vexation,While passions reign within.
Stanza 3. Come, turn your thoughts to JESUS,If you would good possess;’Tis he alone that frees usFrom guilt, and from distress:When he, by faith, is present,The sinner’s troubles cease;His ways are truly pleasant,And all his paths are peace.
Stanza 4. Our time in sin we wasted,And fed upon the wind;Until his love we tasted,No comfort could we find:But now we stand to witnessHis pow’r and grace to you;May you perceive its fitness,And call upon him too!
Stanza 5. Our pleasure and our duty,Though opposite before;Since we have seen his beauty,Are joined to part no more:It is our highest pleasure,No less than duty’s call;To love him beyond measure,And serve him with our all.
Olney Hymns (1779), Book 3, Hymn 3. John Newton. Public domain. CCEL transcription with modernized spelling. www.praylock.com/olney-hymns/3-3
