Book III · Hymn 30

John Newton
8,8,8,8a
Why should I complain?
When my Savior, my Shepherd is near,
How quickly my sorrows depart!
New beauties around me appear,
New spirits enliven my heart:
His presence gives peace to my soul,
And Satan assaults me in vain;
While my Shepherd his pow'r controls,
I think I no more shall complain.
But alas! what a change do I find,
When my Shepherd withdraws from my sight?
My fears all return to my mind,
My day is soon changed into night:
Then Satan his efforts renews
To vex and ensnare me again;
All my pleasing enjoyments I lose,
And can only lament and complain.
By these changes I often pass through,
I am taught my own weakness to know;
I am taught what my Shepherd can do,
And how much to his mercy I owe:
It is he who supports me through all,
When I faint he revives me again;
He attends to my prayer when I call,
And bids me no longer complain.
Wherefore then should I murmur and grieve?
Since my Shepherd is always the same,

And has promised he never will leave
Jer 1:19

The soul that confides in his name:
To relieve me from all that I fear,
He was buffeted, tempted, and slain;
And at length he will surely appear,
Though he leaves me awhile to complain.
While I dwell in an enemy's land,
Can I hope to be always in peace?
'Tis enough that my Shepherd's at hand,
And that shortly this warfare will cease;

For ere long he will bid me remove
Rev 2:10

From this region of sorrow and pain,

To abide in his presence above,

And then I no more shall complain.