I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race.
2 Timothy 4:7
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 This hymn was found among White’s unpublished papers after his death.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:
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 heav’nly 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.