Hymns and Devotions for Daily Worship ‎#173

173. How Firm a Foundation

1. 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 ev'ry 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, shall your strength ever be.

3. "Fear not, I am with you, O be not dismay'd,
"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 thru’ the deep waters I call you to go,
The rivers of woe shall not then overflow,
For I will be with you, your troubles to bless,
And sanctify to you your deepest distress.”

5.“When thru’ 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.“Even down to old age, all my people shall prove
My sovereign, eternal, unchangeable love,
And when greying hairs shall their temples adorn,
Like lambs they shall still in my bosom by borne.”

7.“The souls who on Jesus have leaned for repose
I will not, I will not desert to their foes;
That soul, tho’ all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never—no never—no never forsake.”

Text Information

• First Line: How firm a foundation, ye saints
• Title: How Firm a Foundation
• Author: K— (1787)
• Meter: 11.11.11.11
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 2024
• Scripture:
  1 Peter 4:12-13
  ;
  Hebrews 13:25
  ;
  Joshua 1:5
• Topic: Resurrection
• Notes: Text by K— in John Rippon’s A Selection of Hymns (1787), alt.

Tune Information

• Name: FOUNDATION
• Meter: 11.11.11.11
• Incipit: 56161 51131 35
• Key: G Major or modal
• Source: Joseph Funk's Genuine Church Music, Winchester, Va., 1832; arr. Wesleyan Hymn and Tune Book, 1859