The Contrite Heart

The Lord will happiness divine

On contrite hearts bestow;

Then tell me, gracious God, is mine

A contrite heart or no?

I hear, but seem to hear in vain,

Insensible as steel;

If aught is felt, ‘tis only pain,

To find I cannot feel.

I sometimes think myself inclined

To love Thee if I could;

But often feel another mind,

Averse to all that’s good.

My best desires are faint and few,

I fain would strive for more;

But when I cry, “My strength renew!”

Seem weaker than before.

Thy saints are comforted, I know,

And love Thy house of prayer;

I therefore go where others go,

But find no comfort there.

Oh make this heart rejoice or ache;

Decide this doubt for me;

And if it be not broken, break —

And heal it, if it be.

—William Cowper in Olney Hymns

It’s a strange hymn isn’t it? Knowing Cowper’s story1 helps explain it, but still, it’d be very odd to sing it as a congregation. 

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1Listen to a lecture on the life of Cowper by Michael Haykin or read these, posted here several years ago:

• Cowper 1
• Cowper 2

Comments

[Lori (Goodbye Ordinary)]

It is a very personal poem, and yes, it would seem odd to sing it in church. I don't think he wrote his poems intending them to be sung did he? But, like the Valley of Vision poems it could sure be of great use in personal devotion and prayer time.

[rebecca]

This was one of his hymns in Olney Hymns, the hymnbook Cowper wrote with John Newton.