In hope a heavenly crown to win,
I bind as armour on my breast
The obedience and the love wherein
Angels and seraphs are possessed,
With faithful prayer and worthy deed
Of all the saints in history's roll,
Who kept unstained their holy creed
And virgin purity of soul.
As armour on my breast I bind
The powers of God in heaven and earth;
The fleetness of the rushing wind,
The brightness of the morning's birth;
The splendour of the fiery glow,
The whiteness of the winter snow,
The lightning's wildly flashing mirth;
The strength that girds the rocky steep,
The vastness of the unfathomed deep.
I bind as armour on my breast
The Wisdom which shall be my guide;
The Shield whose shelter bids me rest
In peace, whatever ills betide;
The Eye of God, to search my thought;
His Ear, my prayer of faith to hear;
His Word, to make my words be fraught
With courage which His foes shall fear;
His angel host, to guard my path
Against all human guile and wrath,
Against the tempter's lures to sin.
Against the lusts that strive within.
All these upon my breast I bind
Against my foes in earth and hell;
Against the sorcerer's chanted spell,
