Olney Hymns · Chapter
Perplexity Relieved explained
The speaker recounts a period of spiritual confusion and doubt, listening to others' experiences and fearing their own lack of joy and comfort indicates they are not saved.
What happens
The speaker recounts a period of spiritual confusion and doubt, listening to others' experiences and fearing their own lack of joy and comfort indicates they are not saved. The Lord relieves their burden, but then they are exposed to Satan's fiery darts, leading to despair. Finally, the Savior brings aid and instructs them to trust simply on His word and leave the rest to Him.
Themes in this chapter
Suffering and Affliction
The speaker experiences deep spiritual anguish, fear, and despair, which are part of the affliction that leads to reliance on God.
Faith and Trust in Christ
The poem concludes with the Savior's instruction to trust simply on His word, highlighting the importance of faith over personal feelings or experiences.
Characters to notice
- The Narrator
The speaker expresses confusion, fear, and despair about their spiritual state, then receives relief and guidance from the Lord.
- The Lord
The Lord relieves the speaker's burden, discloses the evils of their heart, and ultimately brings aid, instructing them to trust simply on His word.
- Satan
Satan is mentioned as the source of fiery darts that assault the speaker when their soul is exposed.
- Jesus Christ
Referred to as 'my Saviour,' who brings aid and sets the speaker free.
Key passages
“Uncertain how the way to find Which to salvation led, I listen’d long, with anxious mind, To hear what others said.”
I was unsure how to find the path to salvation, so I listened anxiously to what others had to say.
The speaker's initial confusion and reliance on human testimony.
“The Lord my lab’ring heart relieved, And made my burden light; Then for a moment I believed, Supposing all was right.”
The Lord eased my struggling heart and lightened my burden, and for a moment I believed that everything was fine.
A temporary relief and false assurance.
“I had my wish: the Lord disclosed The evils of my heart, And left my naked soul exposed To Satan’s fiery dart.”
I got what I wished for: the Lord revealed the wickedness in my heart and left my vulnerable soul open to Satan's attacks.
The painful answer to the speaker's desire to experience trials like others.
“Again my Saviour brought me aid, And when he set me free, “Trust simply on my word,” he said, “And leave the rest to me.””
My Savior helped me again, and when He freed me, He said, 'Just trust my word and leave the rest to me.'
The final resolution: simple trust in Christ's word.