Olney Hymns (1840)/Book 1/Hymn 18

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18.
The Golden Calf.—Exod. xxxii, 4, 31.

1 When Israel heard the fiery law  From Sinai's top proclaim'd, Their hearts seem'd full of holy awe,  Their stubborn spirits tamed:
2 Yet, as forgetting all they knew,  Ere forty days were past, ​With blazing Sinai still in view,  A molten calf they cast.
3 Yea, Aaron, God's anointed priest.  Who on the mount had been, He durst prepare the idol-beast,  And lead them on to sin!
4 Lord, what is man, and what are we,  To recompense thee thus? In their offence our own we see— Their story points at us.
5 From Mount Sinai we heard thee speak.  And from Mount Calv'ry too; And yet to idols oft we seek,  While thou art in our view.
6. Some golden calf, or golden dream,  Some fancied creature-good, Presumes to share the heart with Him  Who bought the whole with blood.
7 Lord, save us from our golden calves,  Our sin with grief we own; We would no more be thine by halves,  But live to thee alone.

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