The writings of John Greenleaf Whittier, Volume 3.
John Greenleaf Whittier, Ed.

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“ [320]
     And Church for State, and State for Church, shall fight,
And both agree, that Might alone is Right!
”
     Despite of sneers like these, O faithful few,
Who dare to hold God's word and witness true,
     Whose clear-eyed faith transcends our evil time,
And o'er the present wilderness of crime
     Sees the calm future, with its robes of green,
Its fleece-flecked mountains, and soft streams between,—
     Still keep the path which duty bids ye tread,
Though worldly wisdom shake the cautious head;
     No truth from Heaven descends upon our sphere,
Without the greeting of the skeptic's sneer;
     Denied and mocked at, till its blessings fall,
Common as dew and sunshine, over all.

Then, o'er Earth's war-field, till the strife shall cease,
     Like Morven's harpers, sing your song of peace;
As in old fable rang the Thracian's lyre,
     Midst howl of fiends and roar of penal fire,
Till the fierce din to pleasing murmurs fell,
     And love subdued the maddened heart of hell.
Lend, once again, that holy song a tongue,
     Which the glad angels of the Advent sung,
Their cradle-anthem for the Saviour's birth,
     Glory to God, and peace unto the earth!
Through the mad discord send that calming word
     Which wind and wave on wild Genesareth heard,
Lift in Christ's name his Cross against the Sword!
     Not vain the vision which the prophets saw,
Skirting with green the fiery waste of war,