Scripture Verse

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spi­ritual wickedness in high places. Ephesians 6:11–12

Introduction

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James Montgomery (1771–1854)
National Portrait Gallery

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Words: James Mont­go­me­ry, The Chris­tian Psalm­ist 1825, alt. Orig­in­al ti­tle: The Chris­tian War­ri­or, See Him Stand.

Music: Mis­sion­ary Chant Hein­rich C. Zeu­ner, 1832 (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pic­ture of Zeu­ner (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

Behold! the Chris­tian war­ri­or stand
In all the ar­mor of his God;
The Spi­rit’s sword is in his hand;
His feet are with the Gos­pel shod;

In pa­no­ply of truth com­plete,
Salvation’s hel­met on his head;
With right­eous­ness a breast­plate meet,
And faith’s broad shield be­fore him spread.

He wres­tles not with flesh and blood,
But prin­ci­pa­li­ties and pow­ers,
Rulers of dark­ness, like a flood,
Nigh, and as­sail­ing at all hours.

Nor Sa­tan’s fie­ry darts alone,
Quenched on his shield, at him are hurled;
The trai­tor in his heart is known,
And the dire friend­ship of this world.

Undaunted to the field he goes;
Yet vain were skill and val­or there,
Unless, to foil his le­gion foes,
He takes the trus­ti­est wea­pon: pray­er.

With this om­ni­po­tence he moves,
From this the ali­en ar­mies flee,
Till more than con­quer­or he proves,
Through Christ, who gives him vic­to­ry.

Thus, strong in his Re­deem­er’s strength,
Sin, death, and hell he tram­ples down;
Fights the good fight, and wins at length,
Through mer­cy, an im­mor­tal crown.