1 Rejoice in God, the word commands,
And fain would I obey;
Yet still my spirit lingering stands,
While doubts impede my way.
2 How can my soul exult for joy,
Which feels this load of sin?
And how can praise my tongue employ,
While darkness reigns within?
3 Whence should my lips give rapture birth,
When I no rapture feel?
Or how should notes of heavenly mirth,
Sound from a breast of steel?
4 If falling tears and rising sighs,
In triumph share a part;
Then, Lord, behold these streaming eyes,
And search this bleeding heart!
5 My soul forgets to use her wings;
My harp neglected lies;
For sin has broken all its strings,
And guilt shuts out my joys.
6 The power, the sweetness, of thy voice,
Alone my heart can move;
Make me in Christ my Lord rejoice,
And melt my soul to love.
Source: A Collection of Hymns and Prayers, for Public and Private Worship #287
Swain, Joseph, was born at Birmingham in 1761, and after being apprenticed to an engraver, removed to London. After a time he became a decided Christian, and being of an emotional poetic temperament, began to give expression to his new thoughts and feelings in hymns. In 1783 he was baptized by the Rev. Dr. Rippon, and in 1791 became minister of a Baptist congregation in East Street, Walworth. After a short but popular and very useful ministry, he died April 16, 1796 Swain published the following:—
(1) A Collection of Poems on Several Occasions, London, 1781; (2) Redemption, a Poem in five Books, London, 1789; (3) Experimental Essays on Divine Subjects, London, 1791; (4) Walworth Hymns, by J. Swain, Pastor of the Baptist Church Meeting… Go to person page >
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