CHRISTIAN LIFE >> Christian Warfare

SDAH 606

Once to every man and nation,
comes the moment to decide,
In the strife of truth with falsehood,
for the good or evil side;

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Text

1
Once to every man and nation,
comes the moment to decide,
In the strife of truth with falsehood,
for the good or evil side;
Some great cause, some great decision,
offering each the bloom or blight,
And the choice goes by forever,
’twixt that darkness and that light.

2
Then to side with truth is noble,
when we share her wretched crust,
Ere her cause bring fame and profit,
and ’tis prosperous to be just;
Then it is the brave man chooses
while the coward stands aside,
Till the multitude make virtue
of the faith they had denied.

3
By the light of burning martyrs,
Christ, Thy bleeding feet we track,
Toiling up new Calv’ries ever
with the cross that turns not back;
New occasions teach new duties,
time makes ancient good uncouth,
They must upward still and onward,
who would keep abreast of truth.

4
Though the cause of evil prosper,
yet the truth alone is strong;
Though her portion be the scaffold,
and upon the throne be wrong;
Yet that scaffold sways the future,
and behind the dim unknown,
Standeth God within the shadow,
keeping watch above His own.

Hymn Info

Biblical Reference
(a) Jos 24:15 (d) Ps 121:5

Author
James Russell Lowell (1819-1891) alt.

Year Published
1848

Copyright
Music used by permission of Eluned Jones and Dilys Evans, representatives of the late Gwenlyn Evans

Hymn Tune
TON-Y-BOTEL

Metrical Number
8.7.8.7.D.

Composer
T.J. Williams (1869-1944)

Year Composed
1890

Hymn Score

Piano Accompaniment

Notes

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