Olney Hymns (1840)/Book 1/Hymn 73

73.
The Power and Triumph of Faith.—Dan. iii, 6.

1 Supported by the word,
Though in himself a worm,
The servant of the Lord
Can wondrous acts perform:
Without dismay he boldly treads
Where'er the path of duty leads.

2 The haughty king in vain,
With fury on his brow,
Believers would constrain
To golden gods to bow:
The furnace could not make them fear,
Because they knew the Lord was near.

3 As vain was the decree
Which charged them not to pray:
Daniel still bow'd his knee,
And worshipp'd thrice a day.
Trusting in God, he fear'd not men,
Though threaten'd with the lions' den.

4 Secure they might refuse
Compliance with such laws;
For what had they to lose
When God espoused their cause?
He made the hungry lions crouch;
Nor durst the fire his children touch.

5 The Lord is still the same,
A mighty shield and tower,
And they who trust his name
Are guarded by his power;
He can the rage of lions tame,
And bear them harmless through the flame.

6 Yet we too often shrink
When trials are in view,
Expecting we must sink,
And never can get through:
But could we once believe indeed,
From all these fears we should be freed.