March on, my soul, with strength!
Judges 5:21
Words: George T. Coster. Written in Bedford Park, London, August 3, 1897, and published in The Evangelical Magazine, February 1898.
Music: Arthur’s Seat John Goss, in Hymns and Songs of Praise (New York: 1874) (🔊 pdf nwc).
If you know where to get a good photo of Coster (head & shoulders, at least 200×300 pixels),
March on, O soul, with strength!
Like those strong men of old
Who ’gainst enthronèd wrong
Stood confident and bold;
Who, thrust in prison or cast to flame
Still made their glory in Thy name.
The sons of fathers we
By whom our faith is taught
To fear no ill, to fight
The holy fight they fought;
Heroic warriors, ne’er from Christ
By any lure or guile enticed.
March on, O soul, with strength,
As strong the battle rolls!
’Gainst lies and lusts and wrongs,
Let courage rule our souls;
In keenest strife, Lord, may we stand,
Upheld and strengthened by Thy hand.
Not long the conflict: soon
The holy war shall cease,
Faith’s warfare ended, won
The home of endless peace!
Look up! the victor’s crown at length!
March on, O soul, march on, with strength!