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 Messiah 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 Calv'ries 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 abreast of truth ♪ Though the cause of evil prosper Yet tis truth alone is strong Though her portion be the scaffold And upon 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 ♪ Above His own