2 True 'tis a strait and thorny road, And mortal spirits tire and faint; But they forget the mighty God, That feeds the strength of every saint. 3 From Thee, the overflowing spring, Our souls shall drink a fresh supply, While such as trust in human strength Shall melt away, and droop, and die. 4 Swift as an eagle cuts the air, We'll mount aloft to Thine abode; On wings of love our souls shall fly, Nor tire amidst the heavenly road. 542. S. M. Anonymous. The Whole Armor of God. 1 Followers of Christ! arise, And put your armor on, Strong in the strength which God supplies To each obedient son. 2 Stand forth in His great might, With all His strength endued; But take, to arm you for the fight, The panoply of God. 3 And, above all, lay hold Of faith's victorious shield; Armed with that adamant and gold, Ye cannot lose the field. 4 Leave no unguarded place, No weakness of the soul; Take every virtue, every grace, And consecrate the whole. 5 That having all things done, And conquered in the strife, To nobler service ye pass on, And an undying life! 543. S. M. Heath. Conflict. 1 My soul, be on thy guard; Ten thousand foes arise; The hosts of sin are pressing hard To draw thee from the skies. 2 O, watch, and strive, and pray; The battle ne'er give o'er; Renew it boldly every day, And help divine implore. 3 Ne'er think the victory won, Nor lay thine armor down: Thy arduous work will not be done Till thou obtain thy crown. 4 Fight on, my soul, till death Shall bring thee to thy God; He'll take thee, at thy parting breath, To His divine abode. 544. 7s. M. Neale. Bearing the Cross. 1 Every bird that upward springs Bears the Cross upon his wings; We without it cannot rise Upward to our native skies. 2 Every ship that meets the waves By the Cross their fury braves; We, on life's wide ocean tossed, If we have it not are lost. 3 Hope it gives us when distrest, When we faint it gives us rest; Satan's craft, and Satan's might, By the Cross are put to flight. 4 That from sin earth might be free, Jesus bore it; so must we; Ne'er through faintness lay it down: First the Cross, and then the crown! 545. C. M. Heber. In the Day of Distress. 1 Oh God, that mad'st the earth and sky, The darkness and the day, Oh listen to Thy children's cry, And help us when we pray!