An Answer To A Question. Poem by Henry Alford

When the thing thou lovest is not one
That thou canst beg a blessing on;
When the thing thou lovest puts a screen
Thy heart and thy heart's Christ between;
When the love thou lovest makes thee spare
To open all thine heart in prayer;
When the thing thou lovest draws thy love
To earth beneath from heaven above,
Love not the world.

When what thou fearest while abroad,
Thou didst not fear alone with God;
When the fear thou fearest doth not seem
A portion of thy fear for Him;
When what thou fearest makes thee shame
To glory in thy Saviour's name;
When the fear thou fearest makes thee slow
Sin to rebuke in friend or foe,
Fear not the world.

When the love thou lovest doth but make
Part of thy debt for Jesus' sake;
When the thing thou lovest helpeth thee
The glory of thy God to see;
When what thou lovest feedeth thee
With holy sweet society;
When what thou lovest here below
Shall with thee to thy Saviour go,
Then thou mayest love.

When what thou fearest audibly
God's spirit urges thee to flee;
When the fear thou fearest doth appear
Courage to be rather than fear;
When, while thou fearest, thou canst say,
`My weakness on God's strength I stay;'
When though thou fearest thou canst be
God's soldier at God's victory,
Then thou mayest fear.