17. SOLDIERS OF THE CROSS

1. The Call for Volunteers. Matt. 16. 24-27.

Hymn 416, "The Son of God goes forth to war."

2. The Response. Isa. 6. 5-12.

Hymn 393 (verses 1, 4, 5), "Am I a soldier of the cross?"

3. Swearing Allegiance. 2 Chron. 15. 10-15.

Hymn 413 (verses 1, 2, 3), "Stand, soldier of the cross."

4. The Armor. Eph. 6. 11-18.

Hymn 397 (verses 1, 2, 3), "Behold, the Christian warrior stands!"

5. The Call to Arms. Judg. 6. 13-16.

Hymn 386, "Stand up, stand up for Jesus!"

6. Prayer to God for Defense. 2 Kings 19. 14-19. Hymn 403 (verses 1, 2), "Defend us, Lord, from every ill."

7. The Captain. Heb. 2. 5-10.

Hymn 408, "Lead on! O King eternal!"

8. The Watchword. Judg. 12. 4-6 (Shibboleth). Hymn 420 (verses 1, 2), "True-hearted, wholehearted."

9. Forward into Battle. Judg. 8. 16-22.

Hymn 383 (verses 1, 2, 3), "Onward, Christian soldiers!"

10. The Fight. 1 Tim. 6. 11-16.

Hymn 409 (verses 1, 4), "Fight the good fight."

11. The Victory. 1 Cor. 15. 52-58.

Hymn 418 (verses 1, 2), "We march, we march to victory!"

18. THE SOUL'S PROGRESS

1. The Depths of Sin. Rom. 7. 18-24.

Hymn 242 (1st verse), "Plunged in a gulf of dark despair."

2. Warning. Matt. 3. 7-12.

Hymn 247, "Sinners, turn; why will ye die?"

3. Judgment and Retribution. Rom. 2. 3-9.

Hymn 603, "The day of wrath, that dreadful day."

4. Conviction. Acts 16. 25-31.

Hymn 267, "Depth of mercy! can there be?"

5. Invitation. Matt. 11. 25-30.

Hymn 259, "Come, ye sinners, poor and needy."

6. Acceptance. Matt. 9. 1-8.

Hymn 272, "Just as I am."

7. Faith. Heb. 11. 1-10.

Hymn 301, "Arise, my soul, arise."

8. Witness of the Spirit. Acts 2. 1-4.

Hymn 304, "I heard the voice of Jesus say" (1st two verses).

9. Aspiration. Psa. 42. 1-5.

Hymn 317, "More love, O Christ, to thee."

10. Consecration. Isa. 6. 5-12.

Hymn 348, "Take my life, and let it be consecrated."

11. Temptation. Matt. 4. 1-11.

Hymn 493, "My soul, be on thy guard."

12. Activity. James 2. 14-26.

Hymn 397, "Behold, the Christian warrior."

APPENDIX

A PLAN FOR HYMNAL-STUDY CLASSES, USING THE HYMNAL and THIS VOLUME AS TEXTBOOKS

BIBLE STUDY and mission-study classes are becoming important factors in arousing an intelligent interest in the teachings and work of the church. But why should we not also develop Hymnal-Study Classes to kindle a more intelligent interest in our worship? The very subject of the study should prove fascinating to young and old, and with wise leadership such classes could be made a success in almost every church in Methodism.

For the guidance of leaders of Hymnal-Study Classes the following outline has been prepared, more for purposes of suggestion than for prescribing a hard-and-fast course of study. The scheme may be varied according to the abilities and interests of the class and its leader. In the topics for preparation, especial encouragement should be given to the student to select illustrations for each point first-hand from the Hymnal. Frequently, if possible, the class should sing the hymnsespecially after they have been analyzed in respect to the particular theme of that week's lesson. This should familiarize the class with many new hymns, and also with the best methods of studying other new hymns yet unlearned.

Nor need the study be confined to Methodists. An interdenominational class may find this plan of study of value, if only the first lesson be modified or omitted. Should such classes prove to be successful, the writer would be interested to hear of the progress of the class. If, as is intended, this study awakens a deeper interest in the hymns and their music, the effort of organizing and conducting the class would be well worth while.

LESSON I. HYMNAL HISTORY

Assignment for Reading: Part I, Chapters 1, 2, and 3.

Topics for Special Preparation:

1. The Eighteenth Century Hymnals.

2. The Official Methodist Episcopal Hymnals (North and South).

3. The Making of the Present Hymnal.

4. The Hymnal and Other Factors, hastening the Union of the two Methodist Episcopal Churches, North and South.

5. A Critique of Hymnals, Now Used in Other Denominations. (Examine the hymnals in other churches in your town.)

LESSON II. SPIRITUAL CONDITIONS PRODUCING HYMNS Assignment for Reading: Part II, Chapter 4, pp. 59–79. Topics for Special Preparation:

1. Old Testament Hymns, of Moses, Hannah, David. 2. New Testament Hymns, of Mary, the Gloria in Excelsis, Revelation.

3. Sorrow-Inspired Hymns.

4. Joy-Inspired Hymns.

5. Hymns Celebrating Conversion from Sin.

LESSON III. THE POWER OF HYMNS IN HUMAN LIFE

Assignment for Reading: Chapter 4, pp. 79-94.

Topics for Special Preparation:

1. New Hymn Stories (let the members of the Class ask several Christian people for their experiences with hymns).

2. The Effectiveness of Hymns in the Salvation of Souls. 3. Hymns at the Portal of Death.

4. War Songs.

5. The Different Ways in which Hymns are Used.

LESSON IV. THE SCHOOLS OF HYMN-WRITERS IN ENGLISH

Assignment for Reading: Chapter 5, pp. 95–112.

Topics for Special Preparation:

1. Famous Literary Folk who were Hymn-Writers.

2. The Eighteenth Century Hymn-Writers.

3. The Oxford Movement and Hymnody and the Wesleyan Movement.

4. Clergymen as Hymn-Writers.

5. Hymn-Writing in America.

LESSON V. HYMNS IN FOREIGN LANGUAGES

Assignment for Reading: Chapter 5, pp. 112–128.

Topics for Special Preparation:

1. The Greek Hymnists.

2. Hymns from the Latin Church.

3. Wesley's Translations from the German.

4. Hymns from the Hebrew Scriptures.

5. Missionary Hymns.

LESSON VI. THEOLOGICAL TEACHING IN THE HYMNS

Assignment for Reading: Chapter 6.

Topics for Special Preparation:

1. The Hymns as Teachers of Theology.

2. What Hymns Can the Roman Catholics Use from Our Hymnal?

3. What Hymns Can the Unitarians Use from Our Hymnal? 4. Which of Our Hymns are Common to All Christians? 5. Which of Our Hymns are Peculiar to Methodism?

LESSON VII. THE LITERARY BEAUTIES OF THE HYMNS

Assignment for Reading: Chapter 7.

Topics for Special Preparation:

1. Emotions Expressed in the Hymns (with illustrations). 2. Subjective and Objective Hymns.

3. The Imagery in the Hymns.

4. Literary Blemishes in the Hymns of Other Hymnals.

5. The Rhythm of the Hymns.

LESSON VIII. THE CONTRIBUTION OF EACH NATION TO THE

TUNES OF THE HYMNAL

Assignment for Reading: Chapter 8.

Topics for Special Preparation:

1. Music as a Universal Language.

2. Hymn-Tune Composers from the Continent of Europe.

3. Hymn-Tune Composers from Great Britain.

4. American Hymn-Tune Composers.