Give Me a Foothold

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Give me a foothold on the rock

Author: Thomas MacKellar
Tune: GIVE ME A FOOTHOLD (Rupp)
Published in 6 hymnals

Audio files: MIDI

Representative Text

1 Give me a foothold on the Rock;
The billows round me roll;
Let not their wild, impetuous shock
O’erwhelm my trembling soul;
O Thou that walkest on the wave
Thou Ruler of the sea
Stretch forth Thy mighty arm to save
The soul that calls on Thee.

2 Give me a foothold on the Rock,
O Saviour of the lost!
The world and sin my struggles mock,
And I am tempest-tossed,
I strive to reach an anch’ring place;
My Lord be Thou my stay;
Extend to me Thy hand of grace,
Lest I be cast away.

3 Give a foothold on the Rock,
Till voices o’er the sea,
Like evening chimings of the clock,
Bid welcome home to me.
The day of toil and watching o’er,
The night of sorrow past,
I step upon the shining shore,
And rest in peace at last.

Source: Christian Endeavor Hymns #8

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Author: Thomas MacKellar

Mackellar, Thomas, was born in New York, Aug. 12, 1812. At the age of 14 he entered the printing establishment of Harper Brothers. In 1833 he removed to Philadelphia and joined the type-foundry firm of Johnson & Smith, as proof reader. He subsequently became a foreman, and then a partner in that firm, which has been known from 1860 as Mackellar, Smiths, and Jordan, type-founders of Philadelphia. His publications include The American Printer, 1866, a prose work, and the following in verse:— (1) Droppings from the Heart, 1844; (2) Tam's Fortnight Ramble, 1847; (3) Lines for the Gentle and Loving, 1853; (4) Rhymes Atween Times, 1872. The last contains some of his hymns. (5) Hymns and a few Metrical Psalms, Phila. 1883 (71 hymns, 3 psalms… Go to person page >

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