OUR COUNTRY, YES, WE HEAR THEE.
By J. E. Rankin
BY REV. J. E. RANKIN, D.D. Our country, yes, we hear thee,
Thy stirring battle call,
For hostile hordes are near thee;
Thou need'st thy children all.
It is no time to dally,
To hesitate or doubt:
This is decision's valley:
Forward, with victor shout! 'Tis not the old-time battle,
With garments rolled in blood,
When death shots thickly rattle,
But bad confronting good,
But truth confronting error,
And right confronting wrong.
'Tis this awakens terror,
Sin is so great and strong. For open doors, Thou'st heard us;
We have been praying long;
Now rise, O Lord, and gird us
To meet the coming throng!
Where God's own hand is leading,
We surely dare to go;
We need no voice of pleading,
We fear no overthrow.