Olney Hymns · Chapter
The Good That I Would Do, I Do Not explained
The speaker laments the inability to do good due to sin and Satan's interference, expressing a desire for God's help and strength to overcome this spiritual struggle.
What happens
The speaker laments the inability to do good due to sin and Satan's interference, expressing a desire for God's help and strength to overcome this spiritual struggle.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
The emotional peak occurs in stanza V, where the speaker’s hope is violently extinguished as Satan obscures ev…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Human Sinfulness and Depravity
The speaker describes being prone to ill and unable to do good, highlighting the inherent sinfulness of humanity.
- Grace and Unmerited Favor
The speaker acknowledges that any good desire is a work of God's grace, and pleads for God to complete the work He has begun.
Characters to notice
- The Narrator
Expresses the internal conflict of wanting to do good but being unable to, due to sin and Satan.
- Satan
Described as meeting the speaker when trying to pray, frightening the soul away.
- Jesus Christ
Implored to soften the stony heart and provide the strength to do good.
- God
Acknowledged as the one whose will is best, and from whom help must come.
Key passages
“I would, but cannot sing— Guilt has untuned my voice, The serpent sin’s envenom’d sting Has poison’d all my joys.”
I want to praise God, but my guilt prevents me; sin has poisoned my happiness.
The speaker expresses how sin and guilt hinder worship and joy.
“I know the Lord is nigh, And would, but cannot pray; For Satan meets me when I try, And frights my soul away.”
I know God is near, and I want to pray, but Satan attacks me and scares me away.
The speaker describes spiritual warfare that prevents prayer.
“I would, but can’t repent, Though I endeavour oft; This stony heart can ne’er relent Till Jesus make it soft.”
I want to repent, but I can't; my heart is hard and only Jesus can soften it.
The speaker acknowledges the need for divine intervention to enable repentance.
“But if indeed I would, Though I can nothing do; Yet the desire is something good, For which my praise is due.”
Even though I can't do anything, the fact that I have the desire is good, and I should be thankful for that.
The speaker recognizes that even the desire to do good is a gift from God.
