How Firm a Foundation

Author (attributed to): R. Keen

Author: K.

Author (attributed to): George Keith

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Scripture References:
st. 1 = 1 Cor. 3:11
st. 2 = Isa. 41:10
st. 3-4 = Isa. 43:2
st. 5 = Rom. 8:35-39, Heb. 13:5, Deut. 31:6

Based on Isaiah 43: 1-5, this text was given the heading “Exceeding great and precious Promises. II Peter 3:4” [sic. II Peter 1:4] in John Rippon's A Selection of Hymns (1787). The author was listed simply as "K" Although some scholars are not convinced of this attribution, "K" presumably refers to Richard Keen, song leader in the London church where Rippon was minister. With minor alterations, stanzas 1, 3-5, and 7 are included from the original seven stanzas.

"How Firm a Foundation" is a noble text, full of comfort for God's people whose "foundation" of faith is rooted in the Word (st. 1) and whose lives experience divine protection when they face "deep waters" and "fiery trials" (st. 2-4). The final stanza clearly moves beyond the text's Old Testament source and proclaims the certainty of redemption in Christ.

A Baptist minister, Rippon (b. Tiverton, Devonshire, England, 1751; d. London, England, 1836) was called to the Baptist Church in Carter Lane, London, in 1772 as an interim pastor. After becoming head pastor, he stayed in that position for sixty-three years. He also edited the Baptist Annual Register (1790-1802). His main contribution to hymnody was his compiling of A Selection of Hymns from the Best Authors, Intended As an Appendix to Dr. Watts' Psalms and Hymns (1787) and A Selection of Psalm and Hymn Tunes (1791). These publications became popular in both England and America. However, later hymnologists have often been frustrated by Rippon's work because he frequently did not indicate the authors of the hymns and often altered the texts without acknowledging his changes.

Liturgical Use:
Many occasions of worship that focus on redemption and providence; as a hymn of comfort for those in difficult or tragic circumstances; baptism; profession of faith; prior to reading of Scripture.
--Psalter Hymnal Handbook

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How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord. Keen. [Perseverance of the Saints.] This hymn appeared in Rippon's Selection, 1787, No. 128, in 7 stanzas of 4 lines, and entitled, “Exceeding great and precious promises." In 1822 it was repeated in A. Fletcher's Baptist Collection of Hymns, No. 296, in 4 stanzas, the omitted stanzas being ii., iv. & v. Two arrangements of the text were thus handed down to modern hymnals. In the 1835 edition of Fletcher's Collection, the full original text is restored. This is repeated in Spurgeon's Our Own Hymn Book, 1866, No. 732, and other hymn-books.
The authorship of this hymn has been the subject of much enquiry. We have (1) in modern editions of Rippon the name of "Kirkham"; (2) in Fletcher's 1835 edition as above, "Keen"; (3) and in Spurgeon's Our Own Hymn Book, "George Keith."
1. Rippon's original signature was "K—." In modern editions, which are not published by Dr. Rippon's representatives, the "K—“ is extended into "Kirkham," but on what authority we cannot say.
2. The ascription in Miller's Singers and Songs, 1869, p. 349, we find from the Sedgwick Manuscript, is based upon nothing but the statement of an old woman whom Sedgwick met in an almshouse.
3. In Fletcher's Collection, 1822, the "K—" of Rippon is extended to "Kn," and in the edition of 1835 this is still further extended to "Keen," and so it remains. That this is more likely to be correct than either of the other two is gathered from the fact that Dr. Fletcher was assisted in his work by Thomas Walker, the editor of Dr. Rippon's Tune Book, to whom he specially refers in these words:—"Great assistance has been obtained from Mr. Walker, Compiler of Dr. Rippon's Tune Book, and the Editor of the Companion to it, called Walker's Companion; and it is but justice to acknowledge that the principal choice of Hymns and the application of Tunes, has been effected by his extensive knowledge of sacred poetry, and long tried acquaintance with the science of sacred music." Preface, London, Nov. 1822.
In addition, in the Index of the "Names of such Authors of the Hymns as are known," the name "Keen," with the abbreviation “Kn," is also given. Taking Mr. Walker's acquaintance with Dr. Rippon's work into account, we are justified in concluding that the ascription to this hymn must be that of an unknown person of the name of Keen.
The following hymns bear the same signature as the above in Dr. Rippon's Selection, 1787.
1. In songs of sublime adoration and praise (Distinguishing Grace). This is given in Spurgeon's Our Own Hymn Book, on Sedgwick's authority, as "George Keith, 1787."
2. The Bible is justly esteemed (Holy Scriptures).
From the fact that these two hymns have a common signature in Rippon’s Selection, 1787, with "How firm a foundation," &c, and that the three appeared there for the first time, we also ascribe them to Keen. Miller, in his Singers and Songs of the Church, 1869, bases his note on George Keith on the unsupported word of D. Sedgwick as above.

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

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Psalms and Hymns to the Living God (2023), p.410