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!