 | English Roses |  |
GOD OF BATTLES.
O God of battles, be our guide,
The captain of the hosts
That wrestle with each tossing tide
And rampart round these coasts.
Be Thou our first and last Defence
In passing crowds and cries,
Amid the pomps of vain pretence
Wherein no refuge lies.
And mould us if by suffering schools
The vassals of Thy voice,
To be in all things ready tools
More worthy of Thy choice.
The captain of the hosts
That wrestle with each tossing tide
And rampart round these coasts.
Be Thou our first and last Defence
In passing crowds and cries,
Amid the pomps of vain pretence
Wherein no refuge lies.
And mould us if by suffering schools
The vassals of Thy voice,
To be in all things ready tools
More worthy of Thy choice.
Thou art the Light wherein we live,
Who govern but for Thee;
It is Thy greatness, that doth give
These borders fair and free.
And buttressed by Thy guardian care
We walk our stately road,
Uplifting as we ever bare
The kingdoms' heavy load.
Let nothing evil shame or shake
One least foundation stone,
And with Thy presence awful make
The shadow of the throne.
Who govern but for Thee;
It is Thy greatness, that doth give
These borders fair and free.
And buttressed by Thy guardian care
We walk our stately road,
Uplifting as we ever bare
The kingdoms' heavy load.
Let nothing evil shame or shake
One least foundation stone,
And with Thy presence awful make
The shadow of the throne.
We are Thy chosen servants yet
In daring and in deed,
Though by the darkest ills beset
To carry on Thy creed.
For while we wield the simple trust
That answers to Thy call,
Shaped with Thy beauty brave and just,
If faint we cannot fall.
We have no other stay than Thine,
Through evil hours of wrath;
O, in Thy power, arise and shine
Yet more upon our path!
In daring and in deed,
Though by the darkest ills beset
To carry on Thy creed.
For while we wield the simple trust
That answers to Thy call,
157
If faint we cannot fall.
We have no other stay than Thine,
Through evil hours of wrath;
O, in Thy power, arise and shine
Yet more upon our path!
Our walls of iron are but a wraith
And strengthless ranks of steel,
Without the bulwarks of our faith
And hearts that humbly kneel.
But Thou, whose edicts loose and bind
The nations at Thy will,
Art in all Majesty behind
Our prayers the Ruler still.
So shield from every breath of harms
The people of Thy hand,
Clothe with Thy thunder England's arms
To conquer and command.
And strengthless ranks of steel,
Without the bulwarks of our faith
And hearts that humbly kneel.
But Thou, whose edicts loose and bind
The nations at Thy will,
Art in all Majesty behind
Our prayers the Ruler still.
So shield from every breath of harms
The people of Thy hand,
Clothe with Thy thunder England's arms
To conquer and command.
| English Roses | |