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Soldiers of Christ, Arise!

Charles Wesley
(1707-1788)

Ephesians 6:10-18

First Part

Soldiers of Christ, arise
And put your armor on,
Strong in the strength which God supplies
Through His eternal Son;
Strong in the Lord of hosts,
And in His mighty power;
Who in the strength of Jesus trusts
Is more than conqueror.

Stand then in His great might,
With all His strength endued;
But take, to arm you for the fight,
The panoply of God
That, having all things done,
And all your conflicts passed,
Ye may o’ercome through Christ alone,
And stand entire at last.

Stand then against your foes,
In close and firm array.
Legions of wily fiends oppose
Throughout the evil day;
But meet the sons of night
But mock their vain design,
Armed in the arms of heavenly light,
Of righteousness divine.

Leave no unguarded place,
No weakness of the soul;
Take every virtue, every grace,
And fortify the whole.
Indissolubly joined,
To battle all proceed;
But arm yourselves with all the mind
That was in Christ, your Head.

Second Part

But, above all, lay hold
On faith’s victorious shield;
Armed with that adamant and gold,
Be sure to win the field.
If faith surround your heart,
Satan shall be subdued;
Repelled his every fiery dart,
And quenched with Jesu’s blood.

Jesus hath died for you!
What can His love withstand?
Believe, hold fast your shield, and who
Shall pluck you from His hand?
Believe that Jesus reigns,
All power to Him is given;
Believe, till freed from sin’s remains,
Believe yourselves to heaven!

To keep your armor bright,
Attend with constant care,
Still walking in your Captain’s sight,
And watching unto prayer.
Ready for all alarms,
Steadfastly set your face,
And always exercise your arms,
And use your every grace.

“Pray, without ceasing,” pray—
Your Captain gives the word!
His summons cheerfully obey,
And call upon the Lord.
To God your every want
In instant prayer display.
Pray always; pray, and never faint;
“Pray, without ceasing,” pray!

Third Part

In fellowship, alone,
To God with faith draw near;
Approach His courts, besiege His throne
With all the powers of prayer.
Go to His temple, go,
Nor from His altar move;
Let every house His worship know,
And every heart His love.

To God your spirits dart,
Your souls in words declare,
Or groan, to Him who reads the heart,
The unutterable prayer:
His mercy now implore,
And now show forth His praise,
In shouts, or silent awe, adore
His miracles of grace.

Pour out your souls to God,
And bow them with your knees,
And spread your hearts and hands abroad,
And pray for Zion’s peace.
Your guides and brethren bear
Forever on your mind;
Extend the arms of mighty prayer,
In grasping all mankind.

From strength to strength go on,
Wrestle, and fight, and pray,
Tread all the powers of darkness down,
And win the well-fought day;
Still let the Spirit cry
In all His soldiers, “Come!”
Till Christ the Lord descend from high,
And take the conquerors home.

 

Lyre and Wreath, used under license from www.123rf.com (santi0103/123RF Stock Photo)

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Image credit: Copyright: santi0103/123RF Stock Photo
Used under license
2 comments… add one
  • Richard Samuel August 29, 2021, 11:25 pm

    I was just thinking of this hymn yesterday, and today I discussed it with Doug Abel and Dave Minarik of Resurrection Life Church in Santa Ana/Orange California. Tonight I was wondering how many verses the original had. So, thank you for your post brother Jim! I remember your visit to our church about 15 years ago in the home of Richard Porowski. (It was the 25-year anniversary of Antioch Community Church, which, as you know, morphed into Resurrection Life Church.)

    • Jim Kerwin September 2, 2021, 9:50 pm

      Yes, Richard, I remember you and that historic visit, an anniversary that’s a very fond memory for Denise and me.

      As for the hymn: As you can see from the newsletter just posted (“Warfare After Victory”), I needed the final verse of the hymn… then realized we didn’t yet have it on the website. Happily, for many years I have been the owner of an 1877 printing of “A Collection of Hymns for the Use of the People Called Methodists,” complete with its 1026 hymns. “Soldiers of Christ, Arise” happens to be hymns 266-268 (yes, they broke the original up into three 4-verse hymns, but kept the verses in order), spanning three full pages.

      BTW, I owe a debt of gratitude to my middle daughter and her Methodist-pastor husband: they lovingly had this dilapidated relic professionally rebound here in Norfolk last year for my birthday. Now it should outlast me!

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