Saint Stephen was a holy man
Endued with a heavenly might
And many wonders he did work
All in the people's side
And by the holy Spirit of God
Which did his heart inflame
He spared not, in every place
To preach God's holy name
O man, do never faint nor fear
When God the truth shall try
But mark how Stephen, for Christ's sake
Was willing for to die
Before the elders he was brought
His answers for to make
But they could not the spirit withstand
Whereby this man did speak
While this was told, the multitude
Beholding him aright
His comely face began to shine
Most like some angel bright
O man, do never faint nor fear
When God the truth shall try
But mark how Stephen, for Christ's sake
Was willing for to die
Then Stephen did put forth his voice
And he did first unfold
The wond'rous works which God had wrought
Even for their fathers old
That they thereby might plainly know
Christ Jesus should here be
That from the burden of the law
Should quit us frank and free
O man, do never faint nor fear
When God the truth shall try
But mark how Stephen, for Christ's sake
Was willing for to die
But, oh! quoth he, you wicked men
Which of the fathers all
Did not your prophets persecute
And keep in woeful thrall?
But when I heard him so to say
Upon him they all ran
And there without the city gates
They stoned this holy man
O man, do never faint nor fear
When God the truth shall try
But mark how Stephen, for Christ's sake
Was willing for to die
There he most meekly on his knees
To God did pray at large
Desiring that He should not lay
This sin unto their charge
Then yielding up his soul to God
Who had it dearly bought
He lost his life, and his body then
TO the grave was seemly brought
O man, do never faint nor fear
When God the truth shall try
But mark how Stephen, for Christ's sake
Was willing for to die