Scripture Verse

Put on the whole armor of God, that ye 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 6:10–12

Introduction

Words: C. Jay Smith, in the Voice of Joy, by James Ro­se­crans (Cin­cin­na­ti, Ohio: Fill­more Bro­thers, 1882), num­ber 10.

Music: Bon­ham James H. Ro­se­crans, 1882 (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know Smith’s full name, or where to get a good pho­to of him (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

portrait
James H. Rosecrans
(1843–1926)

Lyrics

Life is one con­tin­ued bat­tle,
Never end­ed, ne­ver o’er;
And the Chris­tian’s path to glo­ry
Is a con­flict ev­er­more.

Refrain

Christian, buc­kle on thy ar­mor,
Let the weak points strength­ened be;
Fight thy fight—all Heav’n shall greet thee
In the hour of vic­to­ry.

Satan ev­er watch­es round him,
Seeks to find the weak­est part,
And in mo­ments most un­heed­ed,
Quickly throws his fie­ry dart.

Refrain

If per­chance thy heart grows wea­ry
With the strug­gle and the fight,
And the day seems dark and drea­ry,
Little sun­shine, lit­tle light:

Refrain

Be that light but faint and fee­ble,
It shall guide thee ev­er­more,
And at ev­ery bat­tle leave thee
Stronger than thou wast be­fore.

Refrain