Galatians 4.19

TRAVAILING IN BIRTH FOR SOULS

Galatians4.19

What contradictions meet

In ministers’ employ;

It is a bitter sweet,

A sorrow full of joy;

No other post affords a place

For equal honour or disgrace!

Who can describe the pain

Which faithful preachers feel,

Constrained to speak in vain

To hearts as hard as steel!

Or who can tell the pleasures felt,

When stubborn hearts begin to melt.

The Saviour’s dying love,

The soul’s amazing worth,

Their utmost efforts move,

And draw their bowels forth:

They pray and strive, their rest departs,

Till Christ be formed in sinners’ hearts.

If some small hope appear,

They still are not content;

But, with a jealous fear,

They watch for the event:

Too oft they find their hopes deceived,

Then how their inmost souls are grieved!

But when their pains succeed,

And from the tender blade

The ripening ears proceed,

Their toils are overpaid:

No harvest-joy can equal theirs,

To find the fruit of all their cares.

On what has now been sown,

Thy blessing. Lord, bestow,

The power is thine alone,

To make it spring and grow:

Do thou the gracious harvest raise,

And thou alone shalt have the praise.

J. Newton

Olney Hymns