The verses are from a poem called, “The Brewing of Soma,” in which Whittier tells of a certain sect of devotees in India who drank intoxicating liquor brewed from the Soma plant. The drinking of it brought them to a state of intoxicated excitement in which they imagined they were god-possessed. The poet then points out how among Christians emotional excitement is often mistaken for spiritual power.
“In sensual transports, wild as vain,
We brew in many a Christian fane,
The heathen Soma still.”
Then follow the beautiful verses of our hymn in praise of the higher life of restfulness in God. The poem was written in 1832, after a particularly noisy and distasteful revival in Whittier’s neighborhood.
For comments on John Greenleaf Whittier see [Hymn 173].
MUSIC. WHITTIER, also called “Rest” and “Elton,” was written for this hymn.
For comments on the composer, Frederick C. Maker, see [Hymn 112].
182. Sweet hour of prayer
William W. Walford