369 Foundation. 11s.
(867) Precious Promises.
How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in his excellent word:
What more can he say than to you he has said,
You who unto Jesus for refuge have fled?
2 In every condition--in sickness, in health,
In poverty's vale, or abounding in wealth,
At home and abroad, on the land, on the sea--
As your days may demand, so your succor shall be.
3 Fear not: I am with you, O be not dismayed;
I, I am your God, and will still give you aid;
I'll strengthen you, help you, and cause you to stand,
Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.
4 When through the deep waters I cause you to go,
The rivers of sorrow shall not you o'erflow;
For I will be with you, your troubles to bless,
And sanctify to you your deepest distress.
5 When through fiery trials your pathway shall lie,
My grace, all-sufficient, shall be your supply;
The flame shall not hurt you; I only design
Your dross to consume, and your gold to refine.
6 E'en down to old age all my people shall prove
My sovereign, eternal, unchangeable love;
And when hoary hairs shall their temples adorn,
Like lambs they shall still in my bosom be borne.
7 The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose,
I will not, I cannot desert to his foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I'll never, no never, no never forsake.
Geo. Keith, 1787.