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Onward Christian Soldiers

 

Video with full lyrics plus a short biography of the hymn’s author below the video.

 

https://youtu.be/vhiHoqp0neU

Verse 1
Onward Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus going on before.
Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe;
Forward into battle see His banners go!

Chorus
Onward, Christian soldiers,
Marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus
Going on before.

Verse 2
At the sign of triumph, satan’s host doth flee;
On then, Christian soldiers, on to victory!
Hell’s foundations quiver at the shout of praise;
Brothers lift your voices, loud your anthems raise.

Chorus
Onward, Christian soldiers,
Marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus
Going on before.

Verse 3
Like a mighty army moves the church of God;
Brothers, we are treading where the saints have trod.
We are not divided, all one body we,
One in hope and doctrine, one in charity.

Chorus
Onward, Christian soldiers,
Marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus
Going on before.

Verse 4
Crowns and thrones may perish, kingdoms rise and wane,
But the church of Jesus constant will remain.
Gates of hell can never gainst that church prevail;
We have Christ’s own promise, and that cannot fail.

Chorus
Onward, Christian soldiers,
Marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus
Going on before.

Verse 5
Onward then, ye people, join our happy throng,
Blend with ours your voices in the triumph song.
Glory, laud and honor unto Christ the King,
This through countless ages men and angels sing.

Chorus
Onward, Christian soldiers,
Marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus
Going on before.

 

Scripture References:
stanza 1 = Deut. 31: 6
1 Tim. 6:12
stanza 2 = Eph. 4:4
stanza 3 = Matt. 16:18

Author:

Full Name: Sabine Baring-Gould, 1834-1924

Birth Year: 1834

Death Year: 1924

Baring-Gould, Sabine, M.A., eldest son of Mr. Edward Baring-Gould, of Lew Trenchard, Devon, b. at Exeter, Jan. 28, 1834, and educated at Clare College, Cambridge, B.A. 1857, M.A. 1860. Taking Holy Orders in 1864, he held the curacy of Horbury, near Wakefield, until 1867, when he was preferred to the incumbency of Dalton, Yorks. In 1871 he became rector of East Mersea, Essex, and in 1881 rector of Lew Trenchard, Devon. His works are numerous, the most important of which are, Lives of the Saints, 15 vols., 1872-77; Curious Myths of the Middle Ages, 2 series, 1866-68; The Origin and Development of Religious Belief, 2 vols., 1869-1870; and various volumes of sermons. His hymns, original and translated, appeared in the Church Times; Hymns Ancient & Modern, 1868 and 1875; The People’s Hymnal, 1867, and other collections, the most popular being “Onward, Christian soldiers,” “Daily, daily sing the praises,” the translation “Through the night of doubt and sorrow,” and the exquisite Easter hymn, “On the Resurrection Morning.”

His latest effort in hymnology is the publication of original Church Songs, 1884, of which two series have been already issued. In the Sacristy for Nov. 1871, he also contributed nine carols to an article on “The Noels and Carols of French Flanders.” These have been partially transferred to Chope’s and Staniforth’s Carol Books, and also to his Church Songs.

–John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

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