Henry Alford

An Answer To A Question.

When the thing thou lovest is not one That thou canst beg a blessing on; When the thing thou lovest puts a screen Thy heart and thy heart's Christ between; When the love thou lovest makes thee spare To open all thine heart in prayer; When the thing thou lovest draws thy love To earth beneath from heaven above, Love not the world. When what thou fearest while abroad, Thou didst not fear alone with God; When the fear thou fearest doth not seem A portion of thy fear for Him; When what thou fearest makes thee shame To glory in thy Saviour's name; When the fear thou fearest makes thee slow Sin to rebuke in friend or foe, Fear not the world. When the love thou lovest doth but make Part of thy debt for Jesus' sake; When the thing thou lovest helpeth thee The glory of thy God to see; When what thou lovest feedeth thee With holy sweet society; When what thou lovest here below Shall with thee to thy Saviour go, Then thou mayest love. When what thou fearest audibly God's spirit urges thee to flee; When the fear thou fearest doth appear Courage to be rather than fear; When, while thou fearest, thou canst say, `My weakness on God's strength I stay;' When though thou fearest thou canst be God's soldier at God's victory, Then thou mayest fear.