A Soldier of the King

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With all the world before me

Author: Johnson Oatman
Tune: [With all the world before me]
Published in 3 hymnals

Audio files: MIDI

Representative Text

1 With all the world before me,
Beneath, around me, o’er me,
I count the fading joys to which we mortals cling,
And yield its fleeting treasure,
For I’ve a greater pleasure,
I want to be a soldier of the King.

Refrain:
I want to be a soldier,
A brave courageous soldier;
A soldier not afraid to shout and sing;
I crave no other mission,
This is my one ambition,
I want to be a soldier of the King!

2 While fighting battles royal,
I will be true and loyal,
Because the Holy Spirit is the sword I swing;
Of Faith a strong defender,
I never will surrender,
I want to be a soldier of the King. [Refrain]

3 As long as wrongs need righting,
I never will cease fighting
Until the battles of this earthly life are o’er;
When to the end I’ve striven,
And my discharge is given,
I’ll ground my arms on Canaan’s peaceful shore. [Refrain]

Source: The King of Glory #196

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Author: Johnson Oatman

Johnson Oatman, Jr., son of Johnson and Rachel Ann Oatman, was born near Medford, N. J., April 21, 1856. His father was an excellent singer, and it always delighted the son to sit by his side and hear him sing the songs of the church. Outside of the usual time spent in the public schools, Mr. Oatman received his education at Herbert's Academy, Princetown, N. J., and the New Jersey Collegiate Institute, Bordentown, N. J. At the age of nineteen he joined the M.E. Church, and a few years later he was granted a license to preach the Gospel, and still later he was regularly ordained by Bishop Merrill. However, Mr. Oatman only serves as a local preacher. For many years he was engaged with his father in the mercantile business at Lumberton… Go to person page >

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Text Information

Text Information

First Line:	With all the world before me
Title:	A Soldier of the King
Author:	Johnson Oatman
Language:	English
Refrain First Line:	I want to be a soldier
Copyright:	Public Domain