# The Prisoner explained — Olney Hymns

> Chapter companion for Olney Hymns by John Newton.

## What happens

The poem uses the metaphor of a prisoner to describe the spiritual anguish of unbelief and the loss of former joy. The speaker mourns their confinement, is taunted by Satan, and pleads for Christ's mercy to break the bonds and restore their freedom, anticipating a future song of praise.

## Themes in this chapter

### Suffering and Affliction

The speaker's profound spiritual distress is depicted as imprisonment, with mourning, fruitless grief, and a pensive spirit fainting.

### Prayer and Dependence on God

The poem is a direct prayer to the Saviour, pleading for mercy and intervention to break the bonds of unbelief and restore freedom.

## Character check-ins

### The Narrator

The speaker, who describes their spiritual state as a prisoner confined in unbelief, mourning their lost freedom and former joys.

### Satan

The adversary who cruelly scoffs at the prisoner, asking 'Where's your God at last?'

### Jesus Christ

The 'Dear Saviour' to whom the prisoner pleads for mercy, asking Him to break the gates and bars and set the prisoner free.

### The Saints

Those with whom the speaker formerly triumphed and joined in songs of praise, and who will admire the mercies of the Lord.

## Key lines

> When the poor pris'ner, through a grate, Sees others walk at large, How does he mourn his lonely state, And long for a discharge!

Just as a prisoner longs for release while watching others move freely, the speaker mourns their own spiritual confinement and yearns for deliverance.

_The opening stanza establishes the central metaphor of spiritual imprisonment._

> And Satan, with a cruel scoff, Says, 'Where's your God at last?'

Satan taunts the speaker in their misery, questioning the presence and power of God.

_This line depicts the spiritual warfare and the enemy's mockery during times of affliction._

> Dear Saviour, for thy mercy's sake, My strong, my only plea, These gates and bars in pieces break, And set the pris'ner free!

The speaker's only hope is to plead for Christ's mercy, asking Him to shatter the spiritual barriers and grant freedom.

_This is the climactic prayer of the poem, expressing total dependence on Christ for salvation._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/olney_hymns_se/chapters/34-the-prisoner
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/olney_hymns_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/olney_hymns_se/chapters