X.
1. Men.
Glory be to God on high.
When His people He would save,
Seas hung back on wondering wave,
And beheld their Master nigh,
Marshalling their deeps on high;
Then beneath the watery wall
Banner'd hosts went at His call,
And safe were harbour'd, till again,
Fresh bursting from his chain,
With tumbling billows rush'd the bold avenging main.
2. Angels.
Peace be upon earth below,
Which life's toils but rock to rest,
Cradled on a Father's breast.
When the ark descended low,
Jordan's streams forgot to flow,
Bridling back their horned march
To a hanging wavy arch,
And, lo, upon the promis'd strand
There stood an armed Hand,—
No sword of yours doth gain this fair and flowery land.
3. Men and Angels.
Good will to man from God above.
Lo, in the shadowy vale of years,
Oft imag'd in redeeming love,
'Tis Christ the living Way appears,
And leads to happier coasts above:—
Ready to whelm, on either hand
The awe-struck waters stand,
And, with their ancient brethren of the sky,
The ransom'd on the shore shall lift their song on high.