O, For A Faith That Will Not Shrink

O, for a faith that will not shrink,

Though pressed by every foe,

That will not tremble on the brink

Of poverty or woe!

That will not murmur nor complain

Beneath the chastening rod;

But in the hour of grief or pain,

Will lean upon its God.

A faith that shines more bright and clear

When tempests rage without;

That when in danger knows no fear;

In darkness feels no doubt.

That bears unmoved, the world’s dread frown

Nor heeds its scornful smile;

That sin’s wild ocean cannot drown,

Nor its soft arts beguile.

A faith that keeps the narrow way

Till life’s last spark is fled,

And with a pure and heavenly ray

Lights up a dying bed.

Lord, give me such a faith as this,

And then, whate’er may come,

I’ll taste, e’en here, the hallowed bliss

Of an eternal home.

~Words: William Bathurst & Music: John Dykes