How Goes the Battle? by S. W. Hickok

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 13, 1866

How Goes the Battle?

By S. W. Hickok

Good morning, brother soldier, how fares it now with thee? What progress art thou making, what is thy prosperity? The combat's growing fiercer, we hear the volleys rattle, I think of thee, and fain would know, with thee, how goes the battle.

Is thy courage strong as ever, determined ne'er to yield? Or art thou growing weary, and fain would quit the field? Do doubts and fears come o'er thee, that 'mid the din and rattle, The foe will be victorious, and with shame thou'lt lose the battle?

Are thy weapons all in order, and ready for the strife? Hast thou faithfully considered thou art fighting for thy life? Art thou surely well prepared with the mighty foe to grapple? Be careful, brother, careful, lest thou perish in the battle.

Didst thou cast aside thy burdens, and prepare thee for the fight? Has temperance given thee vigor to contend with all thy might? Then forward, brother, forward; fear not the cannon's rattle, With Jesus for thy leader, none can face thee in the battle.

But listen, brother, listen, the battle's almost o'er. Hark! methinks I hear them shouting in triumph on the shore. Yes, triumph through the Lamb, who 'mid all the storm and rattle, Has brought them safely through, victorious in the battle.

Then courage, brother, courage, don't, O don't give up the strife, Arouse, with all thy vigor, shouting, Life, eternal life! Soon we'll gain that blissful shore where cannons never rattle, And with Jesus by our side we shall soon forget the battle. S. W. HICKOK. Mantorville, Minn., Feb. 1866.