"Am I A Soldier Of The Cross?"

Am I A Soldier Of The Cross?

The hymn “Am I A Soldier Of The Cross?” was written by English-born Isaac Watts. The music score was written by Thomas A. Arne in 1762. Ralph Harrison did the arrangement of the music score. “ Am I A Soldier Of The Cross?”was written in 1709 by Dr. Watts, following a sermon he preached on 1 Corinthians 16:13, “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.”

As a young child, Isaac had to battle like a soldier. His father was a known Nonconformist of the Church of England. Twice, the man was imprisoned for his religious opinions. As a baby, he and his mother would visit his father in prison. Still as a youth, a local doctor offered to help him with a college education. However, Isaac turned down the offer and entered a Nonconformist Academy. At age 20, Watts left the Academy and began composing hymns. The music scores were added later. “Am I A Soldier Of The Cross?’ asks each of us are we willing to stand up for our faith.

Am I A Soldier Of The Cross?

(1) Am I a soldier of the cross,

A follower 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 flowery beds of ease,

While others fought to win the prize

And sailed thru 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.

Watts earned his Doctor of Divinity and moved to London, where he became a minister. He grew tired of the Psalms other churches used as hymns and decided to write of his own. This was met with opposition, but soon his hymns became commonly used in nearly all churches. “ Am I A Soldier Of The Cross?” remains a popular hymn today.

“Am I A Soldier Of The Cross?”

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