Shall I, for fear of feeble man,The Spirit’s course in me restrain? John Wesley

The words of this rarely sung hymn are powerful. Do they not stir the reader up to do what it says? To NOT fear feeble man that the Spirit of God would have His way in our hearts and lives! To be a true witness for God! To not  conceal God's word in our hearts!To NOT soften God's truth before others!Indeed, let Christ's love constrain us with prayers, entreaties, tears, 'To snatch them from the gaping grave'. Rather than fear man let us fear the terrors of the Lord! That God indeed would supply the strength we need to be that true witness of the Lord!AK.

Shall I, for fear of feeble man,

The Spirit’s course in me restrain?

Or, undismayed, in deed and word

Be a true witness for my Lord?



Awed by a mortal’s frown, shall I

Conceal the Word of God most high?

How then before Thee shall I dare

To stand, or how Thine anger bear?



Shall I, to soothe the unholy throng,

Soften Thy truths, and smooth my tongue,

To gain earth’s gilded toys, or flee

The cross, endured, my God, by Thee?



What then is he whose scorn I dread,

Whose wrath or hate makes me afraid?

A man! an heir of death! a slave

To sin! a bubble on the wave!



Yea, let men rage, since Thou wilt spread

Thy shadowing wings around my head;

Since in all pain Thy tender love

Will still my sure refreshment prove.



Savior of men, Thy searching eye

Doth all my inmost thoughts descry;

Doth aught on earth my wishes raise,

Or the world’s pleasures, or its praise?



The love of Christ doth me constrain

To seek the wandering souls of men;

With cries, entreaties, tears, to save,

To snatch them from the gaping grave.


For this let men revile my name.

No cross I shun, I fear no shame,

All hail, reproach, and welcome, pain!

Only Thy terrors, Lord, restrain.



My life, my blood, I here present,

If for Thy truth they may be spent,

Fulfill Thy sovereign counsel, Lord!

Thy will be done, Thy name adored!



Give me Thy strength, O God of power;

Then let winds blow, or thunders roar,

Thy faithful witness will I be:

’Tis fixed; I can do all through Thee!

John Wesley

http://www.hymntime.com/tch/htm/s/i/f/siffofmn.htm