True and False Faith

Representative Text

1 Faith’s a convincing proof,
A substance sound and sure,
That keeps the soul secured enough,
But makes it not secure.

2 [Notion’s the harlot’s test,
By which the truth’s reviled;
The child of fancy, finely dressed,
But not the living child.]

3 Faith is by knowledge fed,
And with obedience mixed,
Notion is empty, cold, and dead,
And fancy’s never fixed.

4 True faith’s the life of God;
Deep in the heart it lies;
It lives and labours under load;
Though damped, it never dies.

5 Opinions in the head,
True faith as far excels
As body differs from a shade,
Or kernels from the shells.

6 [To see good bread and wine,
Is not to eat and drink;
So some who hear the word divine,
Do not believe, but think.]

7 True faith refines the heart,
And purifies with blood;
Takes the whole gospel, not a part,
And holds the fear of God.

Source: A Selection of Hymns for Public Worship. In four parts (10th ed.) (Gadsby's Hymns) #236

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Author: J. Hart

Hart, Joseph, was born in London in 1712. His early life is involved in obscurity. His education was fairly good; and from the testimony of his brother-in-law, and successor in the ministry in Jewin Street, the Rev. John Hughes, "his civil calling was" for some time "that of a teacher of the learned languages." His early life, according to his own Experience which he prefaced to his Hymns, was a curious mixture of loose conduct, serious conviction of sin, and endeavours after amendment of life, and not until Whitsuntide, 1757, did he realize a permanent change, which was brought about mainly through his attending divine service at the Moravian Chapel, in Fetter Lane, London, and hearing a sermon on Rev. iii. 10. During the next two years ma… Go to person page >

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