# Self-Acquaintance explained — Olney Hymns

> Chapter companion for Olney Hymns by John Newton.

## What happens

The speaker confesses to the Lord the sinful state of their heart, acknowledging inward corruption, anger, legalism, discontent, unbelief, presumption, and wandering thoughts. They plead for cleansing through the Savior's blood and transformation by divine power to become a beloved abode of God.

## Themes in this chapter

### Human Sinfulness and Depravity

The speaker acknowledges the evil within their heart, including anger, unbelief, and presumption.

### Grace and Unmerited Favor

The plea for cleansing in the Savior's blood and transformation by power highlights reliance on divine grace.

## Character check-ins

### The Lord

Addressed as 'Dear Lord' in prayer, the recipient of the confession and plea for cleansing.

### Sin

The sinful heart is the subject of the poem, containing fiery seeds of anger and other evils.

### The Narrator

The speaker who confesses their own sinful heart and pleads for transformation.

## Key lines

> Dear Lord! accept a sinful heart, Which of itself complains, And mourns, with much and frequent smart, The evil it contains.

Lord, please accept my sinful heart, which is aware of its own wickedness and grieves over the pain it causes.

_The speaker opens with a confession of inherent sinfulness and sorrow._

> There fiery seeds of anger lurk, Which often hurt my frame; And wait but for the tempter’s work, To fan them to a flame.

Within me are hidden sparks of anger that frequently harm me, and they only need the devil's prompting to burst into a blaze.

_The speaker acknowledges the presence of anger and its vulnerability to temptation._

> Legality holds out a bribe To purchase life from thee; And discontent would fain prescribe How thou shalt deal with me.

My legalistic mindset tries to earn salvation by good works, and my discontent wants to dictate how You should treat me.

_The speaker identifies the sins of legalism and discontent._

> While unbelief withstands thy grace, And puts the mercy by, Presumption, with a brow of brass, Says, “Give me, or I die.”

My unbelief resists Your grace and rejects mercy, while presumption boldly demands, 'Give me what I want or I will die.'

_The speaker contrasts unbelief and presumption as twin sins._

> How eager are my thoughts to roam In quest of what they love! But ah! when duty calls them home, How heavily they move!

My thoughts are quick to wander after what I desire, but when duty calls them back, they move sluggishly.

_The speaker laments the wandering of the mind and reluctance to return to duty._

> Oh, cleanse me in a Saviour’s blood, Transform me by thy power, And make me thy beloved abode, And let me rove no more!

Please cleanse me through the blood of the Savior, change me by Your power, and make me Your beloved dwelling place, so that I no longer wander.

_The speaker concludes with a plea for cleansing, transformation, and permanence in God's presence._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/olney_hymns_se/chapters/26-self-acquaintance
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/olney_hymns_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/olney_hymns_se/chapters