Scripture Verse

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race. 2 Timothy 4:7

Introduction

Words: Hen­ry K. White (1785–1806) & Fran­ces S. Full­er-Mait­land. This hymn was found among White’s un­pub­lished pa­pers af­ter his death. In 1827, it was re­vised by Full­er-Mait­land and in­clud­ed in a vol­ume of hymns. Full­er-Mait­land was on­ly 14 years old at the time.

Music: Eigh­mey Will­iam H. Pon­ti­us (1857–1937) (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tune:

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Henry K. White
1785–1806
National Portrait Gallery

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Lyrics

Oft in sor­row, oft in woe,
Onward, Chris­tian, on­ward go:
Fight the fight, main­tain the strife
Strengthened with the bread of life.

Onward Chris­tians, on­ward go,
Join the war, and face the foe;
Faint not: Much does yet re­main,
Dreary is the long cam­paign.

Shrink not, Chris­tians, will ye yield?
Will ye quit the pain­ful field?
Will ye flee in dan­ger’s hour?
Know ye not your cap­tain’s pow­er?

Let your droop­ing hearts be glad:
March in hea­ven­ly ar­mor clad:
Fight, nor think the bat­tle long,
Victory soon shall be your song.

Let not sor­row dim your eye,
Soon shall ev­ery tear be dry;
Let not fears your course im­pede,
Great your strength, if great your need.

Onward then in bat­tle move,
More than con­quer­ors ye shall prove;
Though op­posed by ma­ny a foe,
Christian sol­diers on­ward go.