England’s Greatness
I entered on a stately hall,
Through portals wide and high,
Where hung a picture on the wall
Which quickly caught my eye.
'Twas not a splendid work of art
By some great painter's hand,
But still it deeply stirred my heart;
To me 'twas truly grand.
'Twas just a Bible open wide
Portrayed before my view;
With gilt-edged leaves on either side,
And silken mark of blue.
above the book in letters tall,
Inscribed in red and gold,
'Twas England's greatness – that was all,
But, oh, a truth it told!
Yes, England's greatness in the past,
And England's fame to-day,
Is not alone her riches vast,
Her culture nor her sway;
'Tis not alone her men of State,
Her heroes 'neath the sod,
But what hath made the nation great
Has been her faith in God.
And England's greatness at this hour,
In this tremendous fight,
Is faith in God's unfailing power
To crush the tyrant's might.
Her faith is not in weapons made
By human skill or strength --
For these alone without his aid
Will surely fail at length.
The noblest sovereign on a throne
Is England's Queen today;
Among the Christian nations known
Old England leads the way;
The bravest soldiers who have fought
Before the enemy's guns,
And who such noble deeds have wrought,
Were England's gallant sons.
The word of God has been her guide
In trial and suspense,
And God has been on England's side,
Her shield and her defence.
So long has England holds to the Word,
And pride and wrong doth hate,
So long will England's fame be heard --
So long will she be great. - anon -