66. the invisible armies.
Oh! think not, armies of the earth,As in the march ye go,
To hail a nation's second birth,
Or wrest it from the foe,
That here upon this mortal field
Do all your forces stand revealed;
The eternal scenes outstretching time
Are now in movement more sublime.
Hail! heroes of the ages gone,
Of sacred story all,
Who led the hosts of Israel on--
Who broke the ancient thrall
Of tyrants clamoring for reign
O'er the rich Orient's domain,--
Thy spirits, stirring from their height,
Shall lend to us their former might.
For, saith the High and Mighty One,
Who sitteth in the heaven,
'Tis not of earth and time alone
That nations thus are riven;
Behold! the armies of the skies,--
The embattled legions, see then rise!
Arrayed, and officered, and led,
By angel chieftains from the dead!
The solemn vision deepening, lo!
What mighty numbers swell,
Rising from their dark pits of woe,
The serried ranks of hell!
Great God! it is the conflict dire
Which raged of old on plains of fire!
Jesus, the mighty victor, knew,
Both worlds were open to his view.
And when again, on Canaan's land,
The rebel armies stood,
Behold! the angel in command--
How soldierly his word:
“I'm captain of the hosts!” he said,
With sword drawn in his hand, and led
Unseen by Joshua before,
To victory all the tribes of war.
And so, when Syria's guilty king,
'Gainst Israel led the foe,
And omens dire began to sprint
From out that threatening woe;
“Fear not,” said Israel's prophet bold,
“Our numbers cannot now be told.”
And lo! the mount of vision came,
With hosts and chariots of flame!
And shall not fair Columbia, too,
Land of the brave and free,
Her ancient heroes wake anew
To life — to Liberty?
Ho! all ye martyred sons of flame,
Statesmen and warriors of fame,
Filled be the air afresh with fire,
Which your immortal minds inspire.
And when in conflict with the foe,
The nations reel and rock,
Trembling as if beneath the blow
Of some tremendous shock,
Remember, 'tis the Lord that fights;
He rules the deeps, He crowns the heights,
Sends the destroying angel forth,
Or heaven's strong legions bid to earth.
Almighty God! to Thee we raise,
To Thee our souls rehearse
Our song of triumph and of praise,
With thy vast Universe!
Firm is the centre of Thy power,
Vast and controlling every hour;
And Heaven, and Earth, and Hell shall be
Moved by thine own Infinity!
--Woonsocket (R. I.) Patriot, Sept. 13.
