How Firm a Foundation

How Firm a Foundation

Rippon's Selection of Hymns

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?

Fear not; I am with thee. O be not dismayed,

For I am thy God, I will still give thee aid.

I'll strengthen thee, help thee, And cause thee to stand,

Upheld by My righteous, Omnipotent hand.

When through fiery trials Thy pathway shall lie,

My grace, all sufficient, Shall be thy supply.

The flames shall not hurt thee; I only design

Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine.

The soul that on Jesus Hath leaned for repose,

I will not, I will not Desert to its foes;

That soul, though all hell Should endeavor to shake,

I'll never, no never, No never forsake.

John Rippon was a Baptist preacher for 63 years beginning in 1775. He had a great love of hymns and had a vision to have them in bound into a hymnal. He got his wish in 1787 and was thrilled to discover that it was a big hit, especially with Baptist churches. No one knows the true author of this hymn because it was signed, "K". The original title was "Exceedingly Great and Precious Promises" and it is no wonder why. The author composed each stanza based on a promise from God's Word. Isaiah 41:10, Isaiah 43:2, 2 Corinthians 12:9 and Hebrews 13:5 are just a few examples. See if you can tell which line they represent.
*Hymn history taken from Then Sings My Soul by Robert J. Morgan.