1 Author of faith, eternal Word,
whose Spirit breathes the active flame;
faith, like its finisher and Lord,
today as yesterday the same:
2 To thee our humble hearts aspire,
and ask the gift unspeakable;
increase in us the kindled fire,
in us the work of faith fulfil.
3 By faith we know thee strong to save –
save us, a present Saviour thou!
Whate'er we hope, by faith we have,
future and past subsisting now.
4 The things unknown to feeble sense,
unseen by reason's glimmering ray,
with strong, commanding evidence,
their heav'nly origin display.
5 Faith lends its realizing light,
the clouds disperse, the shadows fly;
the Invisible appears in sight,
and God is seen by mortal eye.
Source: Common Praise: A new edition of Hymns Ancient and Modern #381
First Line: | Author of faith, eternal Word |
Title: | The Work of Faith |
Author: | Charles Wesley |
Meter: | 8.8.8.8 |
Language: | English |
Copyright: | Public Domain |
Author of faith, Eternal Word. C. Wesley. [Faith.] This poem is a paraphrase of Heb. xi. It appeared in 88 stanzas of 4 lines in Hymns & Sacred Poems, 1740, with the title "The Life of Faith." In 1780 J. Wesley gave stanzas i.-vi. as No. 92 in the Wesleyan Hymn Book, (ed. 1875, No. 95). From the Wesleyan Hymn Book it has passed into most of the collections of the Methodist denominations in Great Britain and America, and also into other hymnals. Full original text in Poetical Works, 1868-72, vol. i. pp. 209-221. The poem as a whole, is criticised in the Wesleyan Magazine, 1839, p. 381.
-- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)