When Thy soldiers take their swords,
When they speak the solemn words,
When they kneel before Thee here
Feeling Thee, their Father near ;
These Thy children, Lord, defend,
To their help, Thy Spirit send.
When the world's sharp strife is nigh,
When they hear the battle-cry,
When they rush into the fight,
Knowing not temptation's might;
These Thy children, Lord, defend,.
To their zeal, Thy wisdom lend.
When their hearts are lifted high
With success or victory,
When they feel the conqueror's pride-
Lest they grow self-satisfied-
These Thy children, Lord defend,
Teach their souls to Thee to bend.
* Written for the boys of Cheltondale.
When the vows that they have made,
When the prayers that they have prayed,
Shall be fading from their hearts;
When their first warm faith departs,
These Thy children, Lord, defend,
Keep them faithful to the end.
Through life's conflict guard us all,
Or, if wounded, some should fall
Ere the victory be won;
For the sake of Christ Thy Son,
These Thy children, Lord defend,
And in death Thy comfort lend.
"God's workmen are a glorious band,
They work with all their might,
And with their best of heart and hand
They labour for the right.
God's workmen have a noble task,
To help their brother-men,
To root out sin, to build in truth,
To make earth pure again.
God's workmen need not be ashamed
If all their work should fail 1;
Though truth and right be often blamed
They must at last prevail.
God's workmen need not faint or fall
Though working days be long:
The Master's Hand is with them all
And He can make them strong.
God's workmen follow Christ their Head And He with them is one;
Like Him, they joyfully go home
When this life's work is done.
What is joy that we may taste it
While the hours fleet so fast?
Time is joy unless we waste it
In a joy that will not last.
Love is joy--when we bestow it
On the highest and the best!
Love is joy and we shall know it
When we love the Holiest.
Work is joy-when we are working For the love of God and man, When no selfish thought is lurking In the life-work that we plan.
Life is joy-when God has given
Light that we may truly see,
Life is joy when we have striven
Ever to live faithfully.
Death is joy-when we are going
To our Father's life above,
And a joy beyond our knowing
Lies in Heaven's work and love.
Refrain As God has given-so let us give,
As we would die-so let us live,
As God wills it-such let it be,
The joy of Life and Eternity.
Women's Printing Society, Limited, 21B Great College Street, Westminster, S.W.
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