God said,
Genesis 1:20Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth.
Words: Charles Coffin, in the Paris Breviary, 1736 (Iisdem creati fluctibus). Translated from Latin to English by John Chandler and the compilers of Hymns Ancient and Modern.
The fish in wave, the bird on wing,
God bade the waters bear;
Each for our mortal body’s food
His gracious hands prepare.
But other food, of richer cost,
The immortal spirit needs;
By faith it lives on every word
That from His mouth proceeds.
Faith springing from the blood of Christ,
Has flowed o’er every land;
And sinners through the vanquished world
Bow down to its command.
Its light the joy of Heav’n reveals
To hearts made pure within;
And bids them seek by worthy deeds
Eternal crowns to win.
By faith the saints of old were strong
The lion’s wrath to tame;
By faith they spurned the tyrant’s threats,
And scorned the raging flame.
Lord, grant that we the path may tread
Whereon its light doth shine;
And gather, as we onward go,
The fruits of love divine.
O praise the Father; praise the Son,
On whose most precious blood
Rests all our faith; and praise to Him
Who with Them both is God.