A Great Song for the King from the 1700’s
One of my favorite “old hymns”
Onward March, all-conquering Jesus,
Gird Thee on Thy mighty sword;
Sinful earth can ne’er oppose Thee;
Hell itself quails at Thy Word,
Thy great Name is so exalted,
Every foe shrinks back in fear;
Terror creeps through all creation,
When it knows that though art near.
2 Free my soul from sin’s foul bondage;
Hasten now that glorious dawn;
Break proud Babel’s gates in sunder;
Let the massive bolts be drawn.
Forth like ocean’s heaving surges,
Bring in myriads ransomed slaves,
Host on host, with shouts of triumph,
Endless, countless as the waves.
3 Even today I hear sweet music,
Praises of a blood-freed throng;
Full deliverance, glorious freedom,
Are the themes of endless song;
Whiter than the snow their raiment,
Victor palms they wave on high,
As they pass, with fullest glory,
Into life’s felicity.
4 How my raptured soul rejoices
That the jubilee is near;
Every word will be accomplished
Spoken by our Saviour here.
North and South, in countless myriads,
From earth’s darkest ends they come,
With the dance and gladsome music,
Into heaven’s eternal home.
-- William Williams 1717-1791
