O thou, by long experience tried

O thou, by long experience tried

Translator: William Cowper; Author: Madame Guyon
Tune: HOLLEY
Published in 49 hymnals

Full Text

O thou, by long experience tried,
Near whom no grief can long abide;
My love! how full of sweet content
I pass my years of banishment!

All scenes alike engaging prove
To souls impressed with sacred love!
Where'er they dwell, they dwell in thee;
In heaven, in earth, or on the sea.

To me remains nor place nor time;
My country is in every clime;
I can be calm and free from care
On any shore, since God is there.

While place we seek, or place we shun,
The soul finds happiness in none;
But, with a God to guide our way,
'Tis equal joy to go or stay.

Could I be cast where thou art not,
That were indeed a dreadful lot;
But regions none remote I call,
Secure of finding God in all.

My country, Lord, art thou alone;
Nor other can I claim or own;
The point where all my wishes meet;
My law, my love, life's only sweet!

I hold by nothing here below;
Appoint my journey and I go;
Though pierced by scorn, oppressed by pride,
I feel thee good—feel nought beside.

No frowns of men can hurtful prove
To souls on fire with heavenly love;
Though men and devils both condemn,
No gloomy days arise from them.

Ah, then! to his embrace repair;
My soul, thou art no stranger there;
There love divine shall be thy guard,
And peace and safety thy reward.

Translations from the French of Madame de la Mothe Guion

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Translator: William Cowper

Cowper, William, the poet. The leading events in the life of Cowper are: born in his father's rectory, Berkhampstead, Nov. 26, 1731; educated at Westminster; called to the Bar, 1754; madness, 1763; residence at Huntingdon, 1765; removal to Olney, 1768; to Weston, 1786 ; to East Dereham, 1795; death there, April 25,1800. The simple life of Cowper, marked chiefly by its innocent recreations and tender friendships, was in reality a tragedy. His mother, whom he commemorated in the exquisite M Lines on her picture," a vivid delineation of his childhood, written in his 60th year, died when he was six years old. At his first school he was profoundly wretched, but happier at Westminster; excelling at cricket and football, and numbering Warren Hast… Go to person page >

Author: Madame Guyon

Guyon, Madame. (1648-1717.) Jeanne Marie Bouyieres de la Mothe was the leader of the Quietist movement in France. The foundation of her Quietism was laid in her study of St. Francis de Sales, Madame de Chantal, and Thomas รค Kempis, in the conventual establishments of her native place, Montargis (Dep. Loiret), where she was educated as a child. There also she first learned the sentiment of espousal with Christ, to which later years gave a very marked development. She was married at sixteen to M. Guyon, a wealthy man of weak health, twenty-two years her senior, and her life, until his death, in 1676, was, partly from disparity of years, partly from the tyranny of her mother-in-law, partly from her own quick temper, an unhappy one. Her public… Go to person page >

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Text Information

First Line: O thou, by long experience tried
Translator: William Cowper
Author: Madame Guyon
Language: English
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Notes

0 Thou, by long experience tried, p. 476, i. 2. Another cento is "All scenes alike engaging prove."

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, Appendix, Part II (1907)

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Timeline

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Instances

Instances (49)TextImageAudioScore
A Collection of Hymns #310Image
A Collection of Hymns and a Liturgy: for the use of Evangelical Lutheran Churches, to which are added prayers for families and individuals (New and Enl. Stereotype Ed.) #526Image
A Collection of Psalms and Hymns for the Sanctuary #656Image
A New Selection of Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs: from the best authors; designed for the use of conference meetings, private circles, and congregations (21st ed. with an appendix) #1011Image
A Selection of Hymns, adapted to the devotions of the closet, the family, and the social circle; and containing subjects appropriate to the monthly concerns of prayer for the success... #470Image
Additional Hymns to the Collection of Hymns for the use of Evangelical Lutheran Churches #526Image
Choral Echoes from the Church of God in All Ages: a collection of hymns and tunes adapted to all occasions of social worship #240Image
Christian Melodies: a selection of hymns and tunes designed for social and private worship in the lecture-room and the family #295Image
Christian Melodies: a selection of hymns and tunes designed for social and private worship in the lecture-room and the family (2nd ed.) #295Image
Church Harmonies: a collection of hymns and tunes for the use of Congregations #644Image
Hymnal of the Presbyterian Church in Canada #189Image
Hymnal of the Presbyterian Church in Canada with Accompanying Tunes #d226
Hymns for Children and Young Persons #d324
Hymns for Christian Devotion: especially adapted to the Universalist denomination #131Image
Hymns for Christian Devotion: especially adapted to the Universalist denomination. (New ed.) #131Image
Hymns for Christian Melody #386Image
Hymns for Church and Home #299Image
Hymns for the Vestry and the Fireside #d212
Hymns of the Ages: being selections from Wither, Cranshaw, Southwell, Habington, and other sources (2nd series) #226Image
Hymns of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States, as authorized by the General Convention: with an additional selection #321Image
Hymns of the Spirit #271Image
Hymns, Selected from Various Authors, for the Use of Young Persons #d169
Hymns, Selected from Various Authors, for the Use of Young Persons 3rd Am. from 9th London ed. #d178
Plymouth Collection of Hymns and Tunes; for the use of Christian Congregations #119Image
Prayers and Hymns for the Church and Home #d492
Songs of Zion #d134
Songs of Zion. 8th ed. #d82
The Baptist Hymn and Praise Book #d372
The Baptist Hymn and Tune Book: being "The Plymouth Collection" enlarged and adapted to the use of Baptist churches #119Image
The Baptist Praise Book #159Image
The Bible Hymn Book #d182
The Book of Praise #524
The Halifax Selection of Hymns: intended as a Supplement to Dr. Watts' Psalms and Hymns #d309
The Lecture-Room Hymn-Book: containing the psalms and hymns of the book of common prayer, together with a choice selection of additional hymns, and an appendix of chants and tunes... #H386Image
The Plymouth Hymnal #d397
The Presbyterian Book of Praise: approved and commended by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Canada, with Tunes #290Image
The Presbyterian Book of Praise: approved and commended by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Canada; With tunes; Part I. Selections from the Psalter. Part II. The Hymnal, rev, and en. #290Image
The Psalmody: a collection of hymns for public and social worship #622Image
The Sacred Songster. 5th ed. #d124
The Service of Song for Baptist Churches #d686
The Southern Psalmist #d628
The Southern Psalmist. New ed. #d658
The Springfield Collection of Hymns for Sacred Worship #467Image
The Zion Songster: a Collection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs, generally sung at camp and prayer meetings, and in revivals of religion (Rev. & corr.) #284Image
The Zion Songster: a Collection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Generally Sung at Camp and Prayer Meetings, and in Revivals or Religion (95th ed.) #284Image
Translations from the French of Madame de la Mothe Guion #13Text
Unitarian Service Book, and Hymns for Church and Home. Abridged ed. #d323
Zion's Songster; or a Collection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Usually Sung at Camp Meetings, and Also in Revivals of Religion #d157
Zion's Songster: or, a collection of hymns and spiritual songs, usually sung at camp-meetings, and also in revivals of religion. (10th ed., imp. and enl.) #128Image
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