St. Ethelwald (William H. Monk)

I. 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 endured,
and take, to arm you for the fight,
the panoply of God.

From strength to strength go on,
wrestle and fight and pray:
tread all the powers of darkness down,
and win the well-fought day.

That, having all things done,
and all your conflicts past,
ye may obtain, through Christ alone,
a crown of joy at last.
Amen.

II.
1. A charge to keep I have,
a God to glorify,
a never-dying soul to save,
and fit it for the sky.

2. To serve the present age,
my calling to fullfill;
O may it all my powers engage
to do my Master's will!

3. Arm me with jealous care,
as in thy sight to live,
and oh, thy servant, Lord,
prepare a strict account to give!

4. Help me to watch and pray,
and on thyself rely,
assured, if I my trust betray,
I shall forever die.
Amen.

III. We give thee but thine own,
whate'er the gift may be;
all that we have is thine alone,
a trust, O Lord, from thee.

May we thy bounties thus
as stewards true receive,
and gladly, as thou blessest us,
to thee our firstfruits give.

O hearts are bruised and dead,
and homes are bare and cold,
and lambs for whom the Shepherd bled
are straying from the fold.

To comfort and to bless,
to find a balm for woe,
to tend the lone and fatherless
is angels' work below.

The captive to release,
to God the lost to bring,
to teach the way of life and peace
it is a Christ-like thing.

And we believe thy Word,
though dim our faith may be;
whate'er for thine we do, O Lord,
we do it unto thee.
Amen.