798. "Go forward, Christian Soldier."

Go forward, Christian soldier,
Beneath his banner true:
The Lord himself, thy Leader,
Shall all thy foes subdue.
His love foretells thy trials,

He knows thine hourly need ;
He can, with bread of heaven,
Thy fainting spirit feed.

Go forward, Christian soldier,
Nor dream of peaceful rest,
Till Satan's host is vanquished

And heaven is all possest;
Till God himself shall call thee
To lay thine armor by,
And wear, in endless glory,
The crown of victory.

Go forward, Christian soldier,

Fear not the gathering night:
The Lord has been thy shelter,

The Lord will be thy light.
When morn his face revealeth,
Thy dangers all are past;

Oh, pray that faith and virtue
May keep thee to the last!

Laurence Tuttiett. 1854.

799.

One Fold and One Shepherd. Now is the time approaching, By prophets long foretold, When all shall dwell together,

One shepherd and one fold.
Now Jew and Gentile, meeting
From many a distant shore,
Around one altar kneeling,

One common Lord adore.
Let all that now divides us
Remove and pass away,
Like shadows of the morning
Before the blaze of day.
Let all that now unites us
More sweet and lasting prove,
A closer bond of union,

In a blest land of love.

O long-expected dawning,

Come with thy cheering ray: When shall the morning brighten, The shadows flee away?

O sweet anticipation,

It cheers the watchers on To pray and hope and labor, Till the dark night be gone. Jane Borthwick. 1863.1

A SAFE STRONGHOLD. P. M.

Martin Luther. 1529.

O

802.

"Praise Him, all ye People." REJOICE to-day with one accord,

Sing out with exultation; Rejoice and praise our mighty Lord, Whose arm hath brought salvation! His works of love proclaim The greatness of his name; For he is God alone

Who hath his mercy shewn ;
Let all his saints adore him.
When in distress to him we cried,
He heard our sad complaining;
Oh, trust in him, whate'er betide,
His love is all-sustaining!

Triumphant songs of praise
To him our hearts shall raise ;
Now every voice shall say,
"Oh, praise our God alway!"

803.

Luther's Psalm. Ps. xlvi.

A MIGHTY fortress is our God,
A bulwark never failing;
Our helper he amid the flood
Of mortal ills prevailing.

For still our ancient foe
Doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great;
And, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.
God's word above all earthly powers

No thanks to them - abideth; The spirit and the gifts are ours, Through Him who with us sideth. Let goods and kindred go, This mortal life also: The body they may kill, God's truth abideth still; His kingdom is for ever.

Tr. Frederic H. Hedge.

O THOU whose presence went before
Our fathers in their weary way,
As with thy chosen moved of yore
The fire by night, the cloud by day!—
When, from each temple of the free,
A nation's song ascends to heaven,
Most holy Father, unto thee
Now let our humble prayer be given.

Sweet peace be here, and hope and love
Be round us as a mantle thrown,
As unto thee, supreme above,
The knee of prayer is bowed alone.

And grant, O Father, that the time
Of earth's deliverance may be near,
When every land and tongue and clime
The message of thy love shall hear.

For our Country.

LORD, while for all mankind we pray,
Of every clime and coast,
Oh, hear us for our native land,

The land we love the most!

C. M.

The sacred fast I choose, Oppression's yoke to burst in twain, The bands of guilt unloose?

L. M.