The Choice

The American Spirit speaks: 

1 
To the Judge of Right and Wrong
  With Whom fulfilment lies
Our purpose and our power belong,
  Our faith and sacrifice.
2 
Let Freedom’s Land rejoice!
   Our ancient bonds are riven;
Once more to us the eternal choice
  Of Good or Ill is given. 
3 
Not at a little cost,
  Hardly by prayer or tears,
Shall we recover the road we lost
  In the drugged and doubting years. 
4 
But, after the fires and the wrath,
  But, after searching and pain,
His Mercy opens us a path
  To live with ourselves again. 
5 
In the Gates of Death rejoice!
  We see and hold the good—
Bear witness, Earth, we have made our choice
   With Freedom’s brotherhood! 
6 
Then praise the Lord Most High
    Whose Strength hath saved us whole,
Who bade us choose that the Flesh should die
   And not the living Soul! 
7 
To the God in Man displayed—
  Wheree’er we see that Birth,
Be love and understanding paid
   As never yet on earth! 
8 
To the Spirit that moves in Man,
   On Whom all worlds depend,
Be Glory since our world began
   And service to the end! 

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