STAND fast in the faith is the mandate of God,
Once uttered in heaven, once written in blood;
From the cross of our Lord, from his throne in the sky,
It was breathed over earth, it was uttered on high.
Stand fast in the faith! 'tis the warning sublime,
Poured deeply and sternly through ages of time;
Through the long lapse of eras and centuries old,
Like the voice of a trumpet its burthen has roll'd.
Stand fast in the faith! bold apostles have died,
With the words on their lips, careless who might deride;
Confessors and martyrs 'mid torture and flame,
Have drank in its accents and welcomed the shame.
Stand fast in the faith! for the church of the Lord
Hath inscribed on her banners the glorious word;
O'er all her bright cohorts its glory's displayed,
And blazoned on harness, and buckler, and blade.
Stand fast in the faith! let the mandate roll on
Through her girded battalions, till the warfare is done;
Till the trumpet of conquest sounds over the field,
And the palm moveth proudly o'er helmet and shield.
Stand fast in the faith! there are sounds on the breeze,
Like the voice of the storm when it howls through the trees;
Or its hoarse notes of warning, low moaning afar,
Ere the elements meet in the wild crash of war.
Stand fast in the faith! for the foe is abroad,
With hearts full of hate 'gainst the armies of God;
The hordes of old Edom, the spearmen of Gath,
And the troops of Philistia, with weapons of wrath.
Stand fast in the faith! there are traitors that creep
Through the slumbering camp when the night-watch sleep;
Who smite the unwary, who wait to betray
The altars of God to idols of clay.
Stand fast in the faith! there are those at thy side,
Who can vanquish the foe in his ramparts of pride;
Be loyal—be valiant! thy heart to inspire,
Lo! the chariots of God, and the horses of fire.
Stand fast in the faith! though the conflict be hot,
The field hath no strife where thy Captain is not;
His eye is upon thee—thou hear'st what he saith,
"Ho! quit you like men, stand fast in the faith!"
Stand fast in the faith! though the faithless may flee,
We will peril our all, O Redeemer, for thee;
We will stand in the conflict, assured that thine arm,
Shall shield every soldier from peril and harm.