Son-Day: "Onward Christian Soldiers"

here, lately, marching songs have played in my mind...
Onward Christian Soldiers Lyrics


Onward Christian Soldiers

Onward, Christian soldiers,
Marching as to war.
With the cross of Jesus
Going on before!
Christ, the royal Master,
Leads against the foe;
Forward into battle,
See His banner go!

Onward, Christian soldiers,
Marching as to war.
With the cross of Jesus
Going on before!

At the sign of triumph
Satan's host dost flee;
On, then, Christian soldiers,
On to victory!
Hell's foundations quiver
At the shout of praise;
Brothers, lift your voices,
Loud your anthems raise!

Onward, Christian soldiers,
Marching as to war.
With the cross of Jesus
Going on before!

Like a mighty army
Moves the church of God;
Brothers, we are treading
Where the saints have trod;
We are not divided;
All one body we,
One in hope and doctrine,
One in charity.

Onward, Christian soldiers,
Marching as to war.
With the cross of Jesus
Going on before!

Onward, then ye people,
Join our happy throng,
Blend with ours your voices
In the triumph song;
Glory, laud, and honor,
Unto Christ the King:
This thro' countless ages
Men and angels sing.

Onward, Christian soldiers,
Marching as to war.
With the cross of Jesus
Going on before!

ABOUT THE WRITER:
Ever since the Apostle Paul told the Ephesian Christians to put on the armor of God,
Christian writers have used the symbolism of the soldier as a call for preparedness and courage. But when Sabine Baring-Gould, a thirty-one-year old preacher and schoolteacher, wrote "Onward, Christian Soldiers," he simply wanted to write a marching song for his schoolchildren.

Later, he apologized for the hymn: "It was written in great haste, and I am afraid some of the rhymes are faulty." Whitmonday was a festival day for schoolchildren in Yorkshire, and Baring-Gould's youngsters in the mill town of Horbury had to walk to a neighboring town to join other children for the celebration.

"I wanted the children to sing when marching from one village to the other, but couldn't think of anything quite suitable," Baring-Gould commented, "so I sat up at night and resolved to write something myself."

~Sabine Baring-Gould {1834-1924}

"Take your share of hardship, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
A soldier on active service must not let himself be involved in the affairs of everyday life if he is to give satisfaction to his commanding officer.
Again, no athlete wins a prize unless he abides by the rules.
The farmer who does the work has first claim to the crop.
Reflect on what I am saying, and the Lord will help you to full understanding."

2 Timothy 2: 3-7