Since life in sorrow must be spent

Representative Text

Since life in sorrow must be spent,
So be it—I am well content,
And meekly wait my last remove,
Seeking only growth in love.

No bliss I seek, but to fulfil
In life, in death, thy lovely will;
No succours in my woes I want,
Save what thou art pleased to grant.

Our days are numbered, let us spare
Our anxious hearts a needless care:
'Tis thine to number out our days;
Ours to give them to thy praise.

Love is our only business here,
Love, simple, constant, and sincere;
O blessed days, thy servants see,
Spent, O Lord! in pleasing thee!

Translations from the French of Madame de la Mothe Guion

Translator: William Cowper

William Cowper (pronounced "Cooper"; b. Berkampstead, Hertfordshire, England, 1731; d. East Dereham, Norfolk, England, 1800) is regarded as one of the best early Romantic poets. To biographers he is also known as "mad Cowper." His literary talents produced some of the finest English hymn texts, but his chronic depression accounts for the somber tone of many of those texts. Educated to become an attorney, Cowper was called to the bar in 1754 but never practiced law. In 1763 he had the opportunity to become a clerk for the House of Lords, but the dread of the required public examination triggered his tendency to depression, and he attempted suicide. His subsequent hospitalization and friendship with Morley and Mary Unwin provided emotional st… Go to person page >

Author: Jeanne Marie Bouvier de La Motte Guyon

Guyon, Madame. (1648-1717.) Jeanne Marie Bouyieres de la Mothe was the leader of the Quietist movement in France. The foundation of her Quietism was laid in her study of St. Francis de Sales, Madame de Chantal, and Thomas ä Kempis, in the conventual establishments of her native place, Montargis (Dep. Loiret), where she was educated as a child. There also she first learned the sentiment of espousal with Christ, to which later years gave a very marked development. She was married at sixteen to M. Guyon, a wealthy man of weak health, twenty-two years her senior, and her life, until his death, in 1676, was, partly from disparity of years, partly from the tyranny of her mother-in-law, partly from her own quick temper, an unhappy one. Her public… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: If life in sorrow must be spent
Title: Since life in sorrow must be spent
Translator: William Cowper
Author: Jeanne Marie Bouvier de La Motte Guyon
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Tune

ALLEIN GOTT IN DER HÖH

The tune name ALLEIN GOTT derives from the opening words of Decius's rhymed text in High German. The tune was first published in Schumann's Geistliche Lieder. Decius adapted the tune from a tenth-century Easter chant for the Gloria text, beginning at the part accompanying the words "et in terra pax.…

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Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 32 of 32)
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A Collection of Hymns, for the use of the United Brethren in Christ #926

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A Selection of Spiritual Songs #742

Calvary Selection of Spiritual Songs with Music for the Church and the Choir #d393

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Evangelical Hymnal #317

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Gospel Hymn and Tune Book #342

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Hymn and Tune Book for the Church and the Home. (Rev. ed.) #645

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Hymn Book of the United Evangelical Church #317

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Hymns for the Sanctuary and Social Worship #880

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Plymouth Collection #a753

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Plymouth Collection of Hymns and Tunes; for the use of Christian Congregations #753

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Songs for the Sanctuary, or Hymns and Tunes for Christian Worship #965

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Songs for the Sanctuary; or Psalms and Hymns for Christian Worship (Baptist Ed.) #965

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Songs for the Sanctuary; or, Psalms and Hymns for Christian Worship (Words only) #965

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Songs for the Sanctuary #965

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Songs for the Sanctuary #965

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Songs for the Sanctuary #965

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Songs of the Church #575

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The Baptist Hymn and Tune Book for Public Worship #686

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The Baptist Hymn and Tune Book, for Public Worship #219.686

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The Baptist Hymn and Tune Book #753

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The Baptist Hymn Book #686

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The Canadian Baptist Hymn Book #426

The Church of God Selection of Spiritual Songs for the Church and Choir #d387

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The Church Praise Book #466

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The Clifton Chapel Collection of "Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs" #729

The Gospel Praise Book #d202

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The New Baptist Psalmist and Tune Book #410

The Southern Psalmist #d373

The Southern Psalmist. New ed. #d387

Text

Translations from the French of Madame de la Mothe Guion #21

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Laudamus #267

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