Scripture Verse

Take unto you the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness. Ephesians 6:13–14

Introduction

Words & Mu­sic: W. N. Man­ches­ter, 1897 (🔊 pdf nwc). Ap­peared in Her­alds of Grace, ed­it­ed by Ad­di­son Bow­ser (Dan­ville, Penn­syl­van­ia: 1899), num­ber 3.

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

Lyrics

Onward! Chris­tian, to the con­flict,
Hark! the sound of bat­tle near,
Take the sword thy Lord hath giv’n thee,
Word of truth for­ev­er dear.

Refrain

Onward! on­ward!
Join the glad, vic­to­ri­ous throng,
Alleluia! Al­le­lu­ia!
To our king shall be our song.

Take ye, there­fore, God’s whole ar­mor,
That ye stand in ev­il days,
Girt with truth, and as a breast­plate,
Righteousness in all thy ways.

Refrain

Let thy feet be shod with san­dals
Of the glad, good news of peace,
Bringing tid­ings of sal­va­tion,
And the time when wars shall cease.

Refrain

Take the hel­met of sal­va­tion,
And the sword the Spir­it wields,
Watch and pray, yet rest as­sur­èd
God Him­self from per­il shields.

Refrain