O IF we always love the good, | |
| Yet stand upon the losing side | |
| Where martyrs have before us stood, | |
| And scorn the vulgar baits of pride; | |
| Then shall we never know retreat, | 5 |
| Though suffering wrong and sore defeat. | |
| |
| If we still walk the narrow way | |
| And stumble on the cruel stone, | |
| Which telleth us to pause and pray, | |
| While pilgrims are we left alone; | 10 |
| When we seem vanquished in the fight, | |
| We must be victors for the right. | |
| |
| If we have not a helper near | |
| And danger daily hems us round, | |
| While everywhere some foe or fear | 15 |
| Encroacheth on our holiest ground; | |
| Ah, though we suffer grimly thus, | |
| The awful odds are yet with us. | |
| |
| If Heaven looks veiled and shadows fall | |
| Upon the heart and cloud the sight, | 20 |
| Or weakness garrisons our wall | |
| And darkness is the only light; | |
| Though drifting hopeless with the tide, | |
| We must be winners on God’s side. | |
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