Scripture Verse

When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him. Isaiah 59:19

Introduction

portrait
William F. Sherwin (1826–1888)

Words & Mu­sic: Will­iam F. Sher­win, in Bright Jew­els, ed­it­ed by Ro­bert Low­ry et al. (New York: Big­low & Main, 1869), num­ber 68 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Lyrics

Sound the bat­tle cry! See, the foe is nigh;
Raise the stand­ard high for the Lord;
Gird your ar­mor on, stand firm ev­ery one;
Rest your cause up­on His ho­ly Word.

Refrain

Rouse, then, sol­diers, ral­ly round the ban­ner,
Ready, stea­dy, pass the word along;
Onward, for­ward, shout aloud Ho­san­na!
Christ is cap­tain of the migh­ty throng.

Strong to meet the foe, march­ing on we go,
While our cause we know, must pre­vail;
Shield and ban­ner bright, gleam­ing in the light,
Battling for the right we ne’er can fail.

Refrain

O! Thou God of all, hear us when we call,
Help us one and all by Thy grace;
When the bat­tle’s done, and the vic­t’ry’s won,
May we wear the crown be­fore Thy face.

Refrain