Grant us Thy truth to make us free,

And kindling hearts that burn for Thee,
Till all Thy living altars claim

One holy light, one heavenly flame.

Oliver Wendell Holmes.

CXV.

ARMY HYMN.

LORD of Hosts! Almighty King! Behold the sacrifice we bring: To every arm Thy strength impart, Thy Spirit shed through every heart!

Wake in our breasts the living fires,
The holy faith that warm'd our sires;
Thy hand hath made our nation free;
To die for her is serving Thee.

Be Thou a pillar'd flame to show
The midnight snare, the silent foe ;
And when the battle thunders loud
Still guide us in its moving cloud.

God of all nations! Sovereign Lord!
In Thy dread name we draw the sword;
We lift the starry flag on high

That fills with light our stormy sky.

No more its flaming emblems wave
To bar from hope the trembling slave;
No more its radiant glories shine

To blast with woe a child of Thine.

From treason's rent, from murder's stain,
Guard Thou its folds till Peace shall reign;
Till fort and field, till shore and sea,
Join our loud anthem, Praise to Thee!

Oliver Wendell Holmes.

CXVI.

HYMN OF TRUST.

LOVE divine, that stoop'st to share Our sharpest pang, our bitterest tear ! On Thee we cast each earth-born care, We smile at pain while Thou art near.

Though long the weary way we tread,

And sorrow crown each lingering year, No path we shun, no darkness dread,

Our hearts still whispering, Thou art near.

When drooping pleasure turns to grief,
And trembling faith is changed to fear,
The murmuring wind, the quivering leaf,
Shall softly tell us, Thou art near.

On Thee we cast our burdening woe,
O Love Divine, for ever dear!
Content to suffer, while we know,
Living and dying, Thou art near.

Oliver Wendell Holmes.

CXVII.

C

THE CITY OF GOD.

ITY of God, how broad and far
Outspread thy walls sublime!

The true thy charter'd freemen are,
Of every age and clime.

One holy church, one army strong,

One steadfast high intent,

One working band, one harvest-song,

One King Omnipotent!

How purely hath thy speech come down
From man's primeval youth!
How grandly hath thine empire grown

Of freedom, love, and truth!

How gleam thy watchfires through the night, With never fainting ray!

How rise thy towers, serene and bright,

To meet the dawning day!

In vain the surge's angry shock,
In vain the drifting sands;
Unharm'd, upon the eternal rock,
The eternal city stands.

CXVIII.

Samuel Johnson.

F

FOR DIVINE STRENGTH.

ATHER, in Thy mysterious presence kneeling,
Fain would our souls feel all Thy kindling love;
For we are weak, and need some deep revealing
Of trust, and strength, and calmness from above.

Lord, we have wander'd forth through doubt and sorrow,
And Thou hast made each step an onward one;
And we will ever trust each unknown morrow,-
Thou wilt sustain us till its work is done.

In the heart's depths a peace serene and holy
Abides, and when pain seems to have its will,
Or we despair,-oh, may that peace rise slowly,
Stronger than agony, and we be still!

Now, Father, now, in Thy dear presence kneeling,
Our spirits yearn to feel Thy kindling love;
Now make us strong, we need Thy deep revealing
Of trust, and strength, and calmness from above.
Samuel Johnson.

CXIX.

O

THE CONFLICT OF LIFE.

NWARD, onward, though the region
Where thou art be drear and lone;

God hath set a guardian legion
Very near thee,-press thou on!

Upward, upward! Their Hosanna
Rolleth o'er thee, "God is Love!"
All around thy red-cross banner
Streams the radiance from above.

By the thorn-road, and none other,
Is the mount of vision won;
Tread it without shrinking, brother!
Jesus trod it, press thou on!

By thy trustful, calm endeavour,
Guiding, cheering, like the sun,
Earth-bound hearts thou shalt deliver;
Oh, for their sake, press thou on!

Be this world the wiser, stronger,
For thy life of pain and peace;
While it needs thee, oh, no longer

Pray thou for thy quick release;