Scripture Verse

Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:17

Introduction

Words: Ano­ny­mous, in The Sun­day School Hym­nal, ed­it­ed by Charles L. Hut­chins (Buf­fa­lo, New York: Breed, Lent, 1871), page 193, alt.

Music: Bra­bant Will­iam H. Wal­ter, 1871 (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know the au­thor, or where to get a good pho­to of him or Wal­ter (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

Soldiers, awake! This is the fes­tal hour;
Forth from the grave the Sav­ior Christ hath ris’n;
Garland the cross with flow­ers and frag­rant wreaths;
The Sav­ior lives, and death no more hath pow­er,

Soldiers, arouse. and ban­ish Lent­en gloom;
Let sac­red joy this East­er morn at­tend;
Jesus hath burst the migh­ty bands of death,
And ho­ly an­gels guard the riv­en tomb.

Soldiers, to pray­er! Kneel first this bless­èd day
To Him, the Lord of hosts, the King of kings;
See on your ban­ner His re­deem­ing cross,
And there your mot­to, Ev­er watch and pray.

Soldiers, to arms! Forth to life’s bat­tle­field,
The Spir­it’s sword your on­ly trust shall be,
While on your brow sal­va­tion’s hel­met rests,
And Chris­tian faith pro­tects you as a shield.

Soldiers, sa­lute, with Heav’n’s tri­um­phant host,
Jesus, the Prince of Peace, the Con­quer­or!
Yield Him the hom­age due Al­migh­ty God;
Worship the Fa­ther, Son, and Ho­ly Ghost.