1. How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord, Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word! What more can He say than to you He hath said, To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled? 2. "Fear not, I am with thee; O be not dismayed, For I am thy God, and will still give thee aid; I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand, Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand. 3. "When thro' fiery trials thy pathway shall lie, My grace, all-sufficient, shall be thy supply; The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine. 4. "The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose I will not, I will not desert to his foes; That soul, tho' all hell should endeavor to shake, I'll never, no never, no never forsake!"
Lyrics: John Rippon's "Selection of Hymns", 1787
Music: American melody
Tune: FOUNDATION
Meter: 11.11.11.11.
1787 “K”—in Rippon’s Selection of Hymns
The authorship of the text has always been a mystery to hymnologists. Its first appearance was in 1787 in Selection of Hymns, published by Dr. John Rippon, pastor of the Carter’s Lane Baptist Church in London. He was one of the most popular and influential dissenting ministers of his time.