Once to Every Man and Nation (an old hymn by James Russell Lowell, 1845)
Once to every man and nation comes the moment to decide
In the strife of truth with falsehood, for the good or evil side
Some great cause, God's new dealing, offering each the bloom or blight
and the choice goes by forever twixt that darkness and that light.
By the light of burning martyrs, Christ, Thy bleeding feet we track,
Toiling up new Calvaries ever, with the cross that turns not back
New occasions teach new duties, time makes ancient good uncouth;
They must upward still and onward, who would keep a breast of truth.
Though the cause of evil prosper, Yet ‘tis truth alone is strong
Through her portion be the scaffold and up on the throne be wrong
Yet that scaffold sways the future and behind the dim unknown,
Standeth God within the shadow, keeping watch above His own.
