Shall I, for Fear of Feeble Man

Shall I

for fear of fee­ble man

The Spir­it’s course in me re­strain?

Or

un­dis­mayed

in deed and word

Be a true wit­ness for my Lord?

Awed by a mor­tal’s frown

shall I

Conceal the Word of God most high?

How then be­fore Thee shall I dare

To stand

or how Thine an­ger bear?

Shall I

to soothe the un­ho­ly throng

Soften Thy truths

and smooth my tongue

To gain earth’s gild­ed toys

or flee

The cross

en­dured

my God

by Thee?

What then is he whose scorn I dread

Whose wrath or hate makes me afraid?

A man! an heir of death! a slave

To sin! a bub­ble on the wave!

Yea

let men rage

since Thou wilt spread

Thy sha­dow­ing wings around my head;

Since in all pain Thy ten­der love

Will still my sure re­fresh­ment prove.

Savior of men

Thy search­ing eye

Doth all my in­most thoughts des­cry;

Doth aught on earth my wish­es raise

Or the world’s plea­sures

or its praise?

The love of Christ doth me con­strain

To seek the wan­der­ing souls of men;

With cries

en­trea­ties

tears

to save

To snatch them from the gap­ing grave.

For this let men re­vile my name.

No cross I shun

I fear no shame

All hail

re­proach

and wel­come

pain!

Only Thy ter­rors

Lord

re­strain.

My life

my blood

I here pre­sent

If for Thy truth they may be spent

Fulfill Thy sov­er­eign coun­sel

Lord!

Thy will be done

Thy name ad­ored!

Give me Thy strength

O God of pow­er;

Then let winds blow

or thun­ders roar

Thy faith­ful wit­ness will I be:

’Tis fixed; I can do all through Thee!