Holy Fortitude

Representative Text

1 Am I a soldier of the cross,
a foll'wer of the Lamb,
and shall I fear to own His cause,
or blush to speak His name?

2 Must I be carried to the skies
on flow'ry beds of ease,
while others fought to win the prize,
and sailed thro' bloody seas?

3 Are there no foes for me to face?
Must I not stem the flood?
Is this vile world a friend to grace,
to help me on to God?

4 Sure I must fight, if I would reign;
increase my courage, Lord!
I'll bear the toil, endure the pain,
supported by Thy word.

5 The saints in all this glorious war
shall conquer, though they die;
they see the triumph from afar
by faith's discerning eye.

6 When that illustrious day shall rise,
and all Thine armies shine
in robes of vict'ry thro' the skies,
the glory shall be Thine.

Source: Psalms and Hymns to the Living God #366

Author: Isaac Watts

Isaac Watts was the son of a schoolmaster, and was born in Southampton, July 17, 1674. He is said to have shown remarkable precocity in childhood, beginning the study of Latin, in his fourth year, and writing respectable verses at the age of seven. At the age of sixteen, he went to London to study in the Academy of the Rev. Thomas Rowe, an Independent minister. In 1698, he became assistant minister of the Independent Church, Berry St., London. In 1702, he became pastor. In 1712, he accepted an invitation to visit Sir Thomas Abney, at his residence of Abney Park, and at Sir Thomas' pressing request, made it his home for the remainder of his life. It was a residence most favourable for his health, and for the prosecution of his literary… Go to person page >

Notes

Am I a soldier of the Cross? I. Watts. [Holy Fortitude.] Appended to his Sermons, published in 1721-24, in 3 vols., vol. iii., and intended to accompany a sermon on 1 Cor. xvi. 13. It is in 6 stanzas of 4 lines, and entitled "Holy Fortitude." In Spurgeon's Our Own Hymn Book, No. 671, st. v. and vi. are omitted, but the rest are unaltered. Original full text in all editions of Watts's Works. In the New Congregational Hymn Book, No. 623, it is given in an abbreviated and slightly altered form as — "Are we the soldiers of the Cross?" This is also found in Snepp's Songs of Grace & Glory, 1872, and other collections. It dates as early as the Leeds Hymn Book, 1853. The American use of this hymn is extensive.

-- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)
================
Am I a soldier of the Cross? p. 55, ii. In some annotations of this hymn we have found it stated that it is a portion of "Do I believe what Jesus saith?" that the hymn in its full form appeared in Watts's Hymns & Sacred Songs, 1709; and that the portion beginning "Am I a soldier of the Cross?" subsequently appeared in his Sermons, 1721-24. The facts are (1) both hymns appeared in the Sermons, &c, 1721-24, “Do I believe, &c," for Ser. 30, and "Am I a soldier, &c." for Ser. 31; and (2) the two were united as one hymn, and included in the Hymns and Sacred Songs, Bk. i., No. 37, Pt. ii. sometime in the present century. We find it in T. Nelson's edition of Watts, 1844, and others, but in no edition before 1800.

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, Appendix, Part II (1907)

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Instances

Instances (301 - 400 of 1936)
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Divine Hymns, or Spiritual Songs #7

Divine Hymns, or Spiritual Songs #d8

Divine Praise #d2

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Dortch's Gospel Voices #299

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Dortch's Gospel Voices #364

Dortch's Gospel Voices #401

Down at the Cross #d14

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Dupuy's Hymns and Spiritual Songs (Rev. corr. and enl.) #S5

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Dyer's Psalmist #221

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Echoes from Zion #80

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Elmhurst Hymnal #228

Encore #d7

Enduring Hymns #d4

Enduring Hymns #d14

English and German Gospel Songs, or The Ebenezer Hymnal #d10

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Epworth Songs #123

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Eternal Praise #291

Eureka Carols #d4

Evangel Bells #d4

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Evangelical Hymnal #298

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Evangelical Hymns #82

Evangelical Lutheran Hymn Book with Tunes #378

Evangelical Lutheran Hymnbook (Lutheran Conference of Missouri and Other States) #d19

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Evangelistic Edition of Heavenly Sunlight #77

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Evangelistic Edition of Heavenly Sunlight #98

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Every Sabbath #140c

Everybody's Hymn Book for Church and Home #d11

Exalt His Name #171

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Exalted Praise #122a

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Excellent Songs #17

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Familiar Hymns for Social Meetings #75

Familiar Hymns, Alphabetically Arranged. #d7

Familiar Hymns #67a

Familiar Hymns #67b

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Familiar Songs of the Gospel No. 1 #61

Familiar Songs of the Gospel No. 2 #d5

Family and Social Melodies #d13

Family Hymns #d5

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Favorite Gospel Songs #224

Favorite Gospel Songs. New ed. #d9

Favorite Hymns #d6

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Favorite Hymns #132

TextPage Scan

Favorite Hymns of Praise #361

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Favorite Selections from Victorious Service Songs #72

Favorite Songs #d6

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Fellowship Hymns #184

Foursquare Hymnal #d14

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Free Methodist Hymnal #402

Free Will Baptist Hymn Book #d16

Full Salvation Hymnal #d9

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Garden of Spices #194

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Garden of Spices #259

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Garden of Spices #272

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Garnered Gems #P180a

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Garnered Sheaves #86

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Gathered Jewels #193

Gems for the Prayer Meeting #d3

Gems from Augsburg Songs for Sunday Schools and other Services #d5

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Gems of Gospel Song #128

Gems of Praise (Choice Collection of Sacred Melodies) #d7

Gems of Sacred Song #d7

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Gems of Song #203

General Baptist Hymn Book #d14

General Collection of Hymns, Original and Selected, for Use of Christians #d12

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Gipsy Smith's Mission Hymnal #CH288

Glad Hosannas #d7

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Glad News No. 2 #107

Glad Praise #d12

Glad Tidings #d5

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Glad Tidings in Song #234

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Gloria Deo #449

Gloria in Excelsis #d20

Gloria in Excelsis #d13

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Gloria #213

Glorious Gospel Hymns #468

Glorious Gospel Hymns #483

Glorious Light No. 3 #d4

Glory Gleams #d10

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Glowing Songs #103

Go Ye Therefore No. 2 #d5

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Gold Tried in the Fire #13

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Gold Tried in the Fire #73

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Gold Tried in the Fire #162

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Golden Grain #51

Golden Rainbow #d3

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Golden Rays #21

Golden Sheaves No. 1 #d7

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Golden Songs of Glory #57

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Good as Gold #188e

Good News in Song. Rev. ed. #d5

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Good News #155

Goodly Pearls for the Sunday School #d7

Gospel Bells #d14

Gospel Chimes #d2

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Gospel Echoes #89

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Gospel Gems Number 1 #147

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Gospel Glory #85

Gospel Hosannas #d7

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Gospel Hymn and Tune Book #362

Pages

Exclude 1874 pre-1979 instances
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