Hymns for the Amusement of Children (1791)/Fortitude
HYMN VIII.
FORTITUDE.[1]
Stand fast, my child, and after all,
Yet still stand fast, says holy Paul,
Thy resolution be renew'd,
For this is Christian Fortitude.
5Repeat the Lord's own pray'r for grace,
At ev'ry hour in ev'ry place;
Spring up from human to divine,
For strength invincible is thine.[2]
Then, as the great Apostle saith,
10 'Bove all things take the shield of Faith,
Salvation's helm, and for thy sword,
E'en God's good Spirit and his Word.
And now in dang'rous giddy youth,
Your loins begirt about with Truth;[3]
15 Your feet with Gospel-peace be shod,
Your breast — plate Righteousness from God.
When to the ghostly fight alarm'd,
Know, soldier, thou'rt completely arm'd,
And free from terror or dismay,
20 March on, engage, and win the day.
Notes
- ↑ As noted by Karina Williamson, the conception & images here are taken by Smart from St Paul's exhortation to the faithful in Eph. 6:10—18.
- ↑ 8. For strength invincible is thine — see 1 Cor. 16:13.
- ↑ 9—14. To be compared with "On the Goodness of the Supreme Being", 119—23.
14. Your loins begirt about with Truth — "begirt" is printed as "be girt" in ed. 1772 & 1772a.
This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
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