The Power of Faith

'Tis but a weak expression of our Faith,
Our Love and Gratitude to Christ, who hath
By his Death freed us from eternal fires,
If we do only bridle our desires.
It is not zeal enough that we refrain
Our petty appetites, and do constrain
Our fancies, and affections to retire
From acts of momentary high desire.
Nor is it yet enough to be content
With frequent losses, as a punishment
For our past crimes; we should our thoughts inure
To pains; our hearts and bodies must endure
Something beyond easie self-denials,
And be armed for such fiery trials,
As the first Martyrs felt: If God command
The Grid-iron, or the Rack, we must not stand
Amaz'd; he can enable us to sustain
The torments of such deaths, and flight the pain;
His Power is still to us the same, so we
As great faith have, and such-like piety,
To love and serve our God, as much as they
In those days did, not terrours can dismay:
For where the holy Spirit does prevail,
It is not possible that strength should fail.
If we have faith enough, there is no doubt
But we may walk on fire, and tread it out.