Why Should the Dread of Sinful Man

Why should the dread of sin­ful man

Ensnare and vex my soul?

O for that for­ti­tude which can

My ev­ery fear con­trol.

Shall I of­fend a ho­ly God

And sac­ri­fice my peace

To shun a mor­tal’s threat­en­ing rod;

A friend or two to please?

Hard is the task

I must con­fess

Where du­ty thus con­fines;

Nor can my soul es­cape dis­tress

Though she to God in­clines.

Fain would I please both friends and foes

And fol­low peace with all

Nor to one frown my­self ex­pose

But where ’tis du­ty’s call.

I must ob­ey the God I love

Though all the world con­temns;

One smile from Him I prize above

The rich­est earth­ly gems.

Hark

O my soul

me­thinks I hear

Jehovah’s aw­ful voice—

“Fear not

thou worm

for I am near

I will de­fend thy choice.

“While mor­tal men re­vile and frown

I’ll smile up­on thy soul;

And thou shalt tread the Tempt­er down

While I his rage con­trol.

Trust thou in My al­migh­ty name

Nor let thy faith be weak;

Thy soul shall ne’er be put to shame

Whilst thou My glo­ry seek.

Lord

I re­sign me to Thy will

Thy wis­dom I adore!

I yield to Thee—Thy word ful­fill

And let me doubt no more.