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I Fear The Serpent's Hiss

Representative Text

1 I fear the ser­pent’s hiss,
The prowl­ing li­on’s roar,
The tempt­er’s fas­ci­nat­ing wiles,
And his de­stroy­ing pow­er.

2 What sub­tle arts he tries,
To draw me in­to sin!
Presents th’al­lur­ing bait, but hides
The bane­ful hook with­in.

3 He makes fair pro­mis­es
Of safe­ty, peace and joy;
And where his craft does not pre­vail,
He’ll ope­n force em­ploy.

4 A thou­sand forms he takes,
As best may suit his end;
Now a bright an­gel he ap­pears,
And now a hate­ful fiend.

5 But why should I of him
Be slav­ish­ly afraid?
Jesus, whose heel the ser­pent bruised,
Shall bruise the ser­pent’s head.


Source: The Cyber Hymnal #16243

Author: Benjamin Beddome

Benjamin Beddome was born at Henley-in Arden, Warwickshire, January 23, 1717. His father was a Baptist minister. He studied at various places, and began preaching in 1740. He was pastor of a Baptist society at Bourton-on-the-Water, Gloucestershire, until his death in 1795. In 1770, he received the degree of M.A. from the Baptist College in Providence, Rhode Island. He published several discourses and hymns. "His hymns, to the number of 830, were published in 1818, with a recommendation from Robert Hall." Montgomery speaks of him as a "writer worthy of honour both for the quantity and the quality of his hymns." --Annotations of the Hymnal, Charles Hutchins, M.A. 1872.… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: I fear the ser­pent’s hiss
Title: I Fear The Serpent's Hiss
Author: Benjamin Beddome
Meter: 6.6.8.6
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Media

The Cyber Hymnal #16243
  • PDF (PDF)
  • Noteworthy Composer Score (NWC)

Instances

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The Cyber Hymnal #16243

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