Faith fails;
Then in the dust
Lie failing rest and light and trust.
So doth the troubled soul itself distress,
And choke the fountain in the wilderness.
I care not what your peace assails!
The deep root is, faith fails.
Faith fails
When in the breast
The Lord's sweet presence doth not rest;
For who believes, clouds cannot make afraid;
He knows the sun doth shine behind the shade;
He rides at anchor through the gales.
Do you not so? Faith fails.
Faith fails;
Its foes alarm,
And persecution's threats disarm;
False friends can scarcely wish it a good day,
Before it taketh fright and shrinks away.
When God doth guard, what foe prevails?
Why then the fear? Faith fails.
Faith fails;
Else cares would die,
And we should on God's care rely.
Man for the coming day doth grieve and fret,
And all past days doth sinfully forget.
For every beast God's care avails;
Why not for us? Faith fails.
Faith fails;
Then cometh fear,
If sickness comes, if death is near.
O man, why is it, when the times are bad
And the days evil, that thy face is sad?
How is it that thy courage quails?
It must be this: Faith fails.
My God!
Let my faith be
Living, and working actively
With hope and joy, that death may not surprise.
So let them sweetly close my eyes;
The Christian's life to death may yield--
Hope stands; faith has the field.
--S. C. Schoener.