Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world.
2 Timothy 4:10
Words: Charles Wesley, Hymns for Times of Trouble and Persecution (London: Strahan, 1744), pages 37–38.
Music: Accra James McGranahan, 1904 🔊 pdf nwc).
And shall we now turn back,
To Satan’s conquest yield,
The holy fellowship forsake,
And quit the well-fought field?
No more with accord sweet
Our Savior’s love adore,
And see each other’s face, and meet
In Jesus’ name no more!
We who have counted loss
For Christ our greatest gain,
Shall we refuse the crown and cross,
And suffer all in vain?
Caught in the tempter’s snare,
Shall we like Demas stop,
Th’assembling of ourselves forbear,
And give our brethren up?
No, never will we part,
Or place to Satan give,
But cleave to God with steadfast heart,
And to each other cleave.
Strengthened by His command,
We for the faith contend,
In Jesus’ name together stand,
And suffer to the end.
In vain the subtle foe
Allures with proffered ease,
We now his false devices know,
And scorn his hellish peace:
Thy faithful servants, Lord,
We never will resign,
Or buy the world’s good will and word
By forfeiture of Thine.
No, in Thy strength we say
To sinners and their god,
Ye cannot tear our shield away,
Who trust in Jesus’ blood,
Who to each other cleave,
Your malice we defy;
We will in Christ together live,
We will together die.