Sunday's Hymn: In Bunhill Fields

For the next few weeks, the Sunday’s hymn will be written by someone who is buried in Bunhill Fields.

He Who Would Valiant Be

He who would valiant be ’gainst all disaster,
Let him in constancy follow the Master.
There’s no discouragement shall make him once relent
His first avowed intent to be a pilgrim.

Who so beset him round with dismal stories
Do but themselves confound—his strength the more is.
No foes shall stay his might; though he with giants fight,
He will make good his right to be a pilgrim.

Since, Lord, Thou dost defend us with Thy Spirit,
We know we at the end, shall life inherit.
Then fancies flee away! I’ll fear not what men say,
I’ll labor night and day to be a pilgrim.

—-John Bunyan, but reworked by Percy Dearmer

Here are the original words from Pilgrim’s Progress:

Who would true valour see,
Let him come hither;
One here will constant be,
Come wind, come weather
There’s no discouragement
Shall make him once relent
His first avowed intent
To be a pilgrim.

Whoso beset him round
With dismal stories
Do but themselves confound;
His strength the more is.
No lion can him fright,
He’ll with a giant fight,
He will have a right
To be a pilgrim.

Hobgoblin nor foul fiend
Can daunt his spirit,
He knows he at the end
Shall life inherit.
Then fancies fly away,
He’ll fear not what men say,
He’ll labor night and day
To be a pilgrim.

Learn more about John Bunyan:

• To Live Upon God that Is Invisible: Suffering and Service in the Life of John Bunyan by John Piper. 

Other hymns, worship songs, etc. posted today:

• The First Sunday After Easter at Magic Statistics
• Who Am I? at The Happy Wonderer
• The God of Abraham Praise at Hiraeth
  
• Jesus, The Very Thought of Thee at Seasoning of the Heart
• It Is a Thing Most Wonderful at Whatever Things…
• Christ the Lord is Risen Today at Field Stone Cottage
• Lord’s Day 13, 2008 at The Thirsty Theologian
• Now Be My Heart Inspired to Sing at JoythruChrist
  

Have you posted a hymn this Sunday and I missed it? Let me know by leaving a link in the comments or by emailing me at the address in the sidebar and I’ll add your post to the list.

Comments

[rosemary]

Pilgrim's Progress is one of my favorites, and the link about Bunhill Fields was fascinating. Thanks!