A true Hymne
The Heart's Longing Refrain
The speaker's heart has been trying all day to express its deepest longing, and the only words it can find are 'My joy, my life, my crown.'
My joy, my life, my crown!✦ All day long my heart was trying to put something into words—something it longed to say. And still it runs muttering up and down with only this: My joy, my life, my crown!1
The True Fineness of a Hymn
A true hymn is not measured by artful rhyme but by the harmony of the soul; otherwise, the one who gives his whole self justly finds something missing.
Yet don't dismiss these few words: if they're truly said, they can rank among the finest art. The true fineness a hymn or psalm offers is when the soul is in harmony with the lines.2 Anyone who wants the whole mind, and all the soul, and strength, and time—if the words only rhyme—justly complains that something is still missing to make his verse, or to write a true hymn of its kind.✦
God's Answer to the Sighing Heart
When the heart sincerely sighs for love but cannot express it, God fills the gap and writes the missing word: 'Loved.'
But if the heart is moved, even if the verse is a little sparse, God supplies what's missing. As when the heart says (sighing to be approved), "O, if only I could love!"3 and stops: God writes, "Loved."4
Read the original English
My joy, my life, my crown! My heart was meaning all the day, Somewhat it fain would say: And still it runneth mutt'ring up and down With onely this, My joy, my life, my crown!
Yet slight not these few words: If truly said, they may take part Among the best in art. The finenesse which a hymne or psalme affords, Is, when the soul unto the lines accords.
He who craves all the minde, And all the soul, and strength, and time, If the words onely ryme, Justly complains, that somewhat is behinde To make his verse, or write a hymne in kinde.
Whereas if th' heart be moved, Although the verse be somewhat scant, God doth supplie the want. As when th'heart sayes (sighing to be approved) O, could I love! and stops: God writeth, Loved.
Scripture echoes
- ↩Col.3.4;Jas.1.12;Rev.2.10 — When Christ, who is your life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory. Jas.1.12 — Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love him. Rev.2.10 — Do not fear at all the things you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, so that you may be tested, and you will have affliction for ten days. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.
- ↩Deut.6.5;Matt.22.37;Mark.12.30;Luke.10.27 — And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. Matt.22.37 — And he said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' Mark.12.30 — And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. Luke.10.27 — And he answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself."
Notes
- 1 ↩Early modern 'was meaning' = intending / trying to express; 'somewhat' = something; 'fain would' = longed / would gladly. Rendered as a heart searching for words, not as vague mood.
- 2 ↩Source 'finenesse' covers artistic refinement and spiritual excellence; 'true fineness' keeps both without modernizing into mere polish or skill.
- 3 ↩sighing to be approved: the heart's sigh seeks God's acceptance of its incomplete longing, not social applause.
- 4 ↩Loved may complete the heart's unfinished wish as accomplished love, or declare the speaker beloved; the source leaves both senses open.
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