805. P. M. H. Ware, Jr.
The Progress of Freedom.
1Oppression shall not always reign;
There comes a brighter day;
When freedom, burst from every chain,
Shall have triumphant way.
Then right shall over might prevail,
And truth, like hero armed in mail,
The hosts of tyrant wrong assail,
And hold eternal sway.
2What voice shall bid the progress stay
Of truth's victorious car?
What arm arrest the growing day,
Or quench the solar star?
What reckless soul, though stout and strong,
Shall dare bring back the ancient wrong,
Oppression's guilty night prolong,
And freedom's morning bar?
3The hour of triumph comes apace,
The fated, promised hour,
When earth upon a ransomed race
Her bounteous gifts shall shower.
Ring, Liberty, thy glorious bell!
Bid high thy sacred banner swell!
Let trump on trump the triumph tell
Of Heaven's redeeming power.
806. 6s. & 10s. M. Milton, Gardner, and Dwight.
Peace.
1No war nor battle's sound
Was heard the earth around,--
No hostile chiefs to furious combat ran;
But peaceful was the night
In which the Prince of Light
His reign of peace upon the earth began.
2No conqueror's sword he bore,
Nor warlike armor wore,
Nor haughty passions roused to contest wild;
In peace and love he came,
And gentle was the reign,
Which o'er the earth he spread by influence mild.
3Unwilling kings obeyed,
And sheathed the battle blade,
And called their bloody legions from the field;
In silent awe they wait,
And close the warrior's gate,
Nor know to whom their homage thus they yield.
4The peaceful conqueror goes,
And triumphs o'er his foes,
His weapons drawn from armories above;
Behold the vanquished sit
Submissive at his feet,
And strife and hate are changed to peace and love.
807. 6s. & 4s. M. E. Davis.
For an Anniversary Meeting of the Friends of Peace.
1Not with the flashing steel--
Not with the cannon's peal,
Or stir of drum,
But in the bonds of love;
Our white flag floats above,
Her emblem is the dove,
'Tis thus we come.
2The laws of Christian light,
These are our weapons bright,
Our mighty shield;
Christ is our leader high,
And the broad plains which lie
Beneath the blesséd sky,
Our battle field.
3On, then, in God's great name,
Let each pure spirit's flame
Burn bright and clear:
Stand firmly in your lot,
Cry ye aloud, "Doubt not,"
Be every fear forgot,
Christ leads us here.
4So shall Earth's distant lands
In happy, holy bands,
One brotherhood,
Together rise and sing,
And joyful offerings bring,
And Heaven's Eternal King
Pronounce it good.