Glory to God; to Men Good Will!
Opposed to Jewish Temple-rites,
Strange to the lore of Greece,
That message comes from starry heights,
A key to lasting Peace.
What-e’er our creed, we own its thrill—
‘Glory to God; to men good will!’
Though Art may strive for utterance yet,
And Science grope her way,
A wider zone of thought is set
Where shines the perfect day;
A motive passing earthly skill—
‘Glory to God; to men good will!’
For let the wise and prudent know,
As trustful children would,
That oracle of long ago
Contains the Greatest Good;
Unvex’d by doubt, unmix’d with ill—
‘Glory to God; to men good will!’
A wiser world grows sick of strife,
Of mockery dearly bought;
And man, achieving truer life,
And brave, unselfish thought,
That high behest shall yet fulfil—
‘Glory to God; to men good will!’
So lies millennial peace in reach,
While empires rise and fall;
For, age on age, and new to each,
That glad prophetic call
Comes pealing down the cycles still—
‘Glory to God; to men good will!’
