# The Little Book explained — Olney Hymns

> Chapter companion for Olney Hymns by John Newton.

## What happens

This chapter reflects on the experience of embracing the gospel, initially sweet like honey but followed by bitterness and trials. It explores the journey of faith, where the sweetness of God's promises is tested by sin, Satan, affliction, and doubt, yet ultimately leads to hope for everlasting sweetness.

## Themes in this chapter

### Suffering and Affliction

The chapter describes the bitterness that follows initial sweetness, including sin, Satan's threats, God's afflictions, and human reviling.

### Hope of Heaven and Eternal Life

The final stanza expresses hope for 'everlasting sweet' beyond present bitterness.

## Character check-ins

### The Narrator

Reflects on the personal experience of tasting the sweetness of the gospel and enduring subsequent bitterness.

### Jesus Christ

The Lord who makes the sweetness known and fixes believers for his own.

### Satan

Threatens to devour believers during times of trial.

### The Holy Spirit

Seals the promises, giving sweetness to the longing soul.

## Key lines

> When the beloved disciple took The angel’s little open book, Which by the Lord’s command he eat, It tasted bitter after sweet.

When John ate the little book as commanded, it was sweet at first but then became bitter.

_The opening stanza references the biblical event in Revelation 10._

> Thus when the gospel is embraced, At first ’tis sweeter to the taste Than honey or the honey-comb, But there’s a bitterness to come.

Similarly, when we accept the gospel, it seems sweeter than honey, but bitterness will follow.

_The poem draws an analogy between John's experience and the believer's journey._

> The Lord first makes the sweetness known, To win and fix us for his own; And though we now some bitter meet, We hope for everlasting sweet.

God reveals the sweetness to draw us to himself, and despite present bitterness, we look forward to eternal sweetness.

_The final stanza emphasizes God's purpose and the hope of heaven._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/olney_hymns_se/chapters/141-the-little-book
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/olney_hymns_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/olney_hymns_se/chapters