Author: John Newton Meter: 8.6.8.6 Appears in 7 hymnals Lyrics: 1 Bleak winter is subdued at length,
And forced to yield the day;
The sun has wasted all his strength,
And driven him away.
2 And now long wished for spring is come,
How altered is the scene!
The trees and shrubs are dressed in bloom,
The earth arrayed in green.
3 Where’er we tread, beneath our feet
The clustering flowers spring;
The artless birds, in concert sweet,
Invite our hearts to sing.
4 But ah! in vain I strive to join
Oppressed with sin and doubt;
I feel ’tis winter still, within,
Tho’ all is spring without.
5 Oh! would my Savior from on high,
Break thro’ these clouds and shine!
No creature, then, more blest than I,
No song more loud than mine.
6 Till then—no softly warbling thrush,
Nor cowslip’s sweet perfume;
Nor beauties of each painted bush,
Can dissipate my gloom.
7 To Adam, soon as he transgressed,
Thus Eden bloomed in vain;
Not paradise could give him rest,
Or soothe his heartfelt pain.
8 Yet here an emblem I perceive
Of what the Lord can do;
Dear Savior, help me to believe
That I may flourish, too.
9 Thy word can soon my hopes revive,
Can overcome my foes;
And make my languid graces thrive,
And blossom like the rose. Used With Tune: FAR AND NEAR Text Sources: Olney Hymns (London, W. Oliver, 1779), Book 2
Bleak Winter Is Subdued At Length
My Starred Hymns
My FlexScores
My Hymnals
My Purchased Files
