Soldiers of Christ, arise!

725 S. M.
The whole armour of God.

SOLDIERS of Christ, arise,
   And put your armour 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.

2 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 past,
   Ye may o’ercome, through Christ alone,
   And stand entire at last.

3 Leave no unguarded place,-
   No weakness of the soul;
   Take every virtue, every grace,
   And fortify the whole:
   Indissolubly join’d,
   To battle all proceed;
   But arm yourselves with all the mind
   That was in Christ your Head.
                        Charles Wesley
                        Methodist Episcopal hymnal (1870 edition)

<idle musing>
I didn't remember that this one was written by Charles Wesley.

I know that hymns with military/soldier imagery have fallen out of favor—and I understand that. Some are based on faulty theology and deserve to be consigned to obscurity. But, we risk throwing out some good, solid biblical imagery if we go too far. Personally, I think this one has good, solid theology, so I gladly post it.
</idle musing>