Book Titles That Reflect Hymns

One of my favorite authors, David Weber, has a book series, called the Safehold series,where he recently released #7, that has book titles that some of us in churches might find familiar.  With the exception of the first title, all remaining six titles are parts of lines from a few different hymns.

For example, here are the book titles:

• Off Armageddon Reef (January 2007) ISBN 978-0-7653-1500-7
• By Schism Rent Asunder (July 2008) ISBN 978-0-7653-1501-4
• By Heresies Distressed (June 2009) ISBN 978-0-7653-1503-8
• A Mighty Fortress (April 2010) ISBN 978-0-7653-1505-2
• How Firm a Foundation (September 2011) ISBN 978-0-7653-2154-1
• Midst Toil and Tribulation^[16] (September 2012) ISBN 978-0-7653-2155-8
• Like a Mighty Army (February 18, 2014) ISBN 9780765321565^[17]

Weber didn’t just choose the title by accident. The hymn titles have an affinity with the overarching plot of his book series. If you know the roots from which he draws the titles, you can see additional layers of thought and complexity to his world and the story he is telling.

Then again, for some of us it is just fun to be reminded of the words of a great hymn of the faith.  So below are the words of the hymns.  See if you can find the titles in the hymns (without using your computer search functions to scan the lyrics).And see how many of the verses to each of the hymns you are actually familiar with.

1.	The church's one foundation 
	is Jesus Christ her Lord; 
	she is his new creation 
	by water and the Word. 
	From heaven he came and sought her 
	to be his holy bride; 
	with his own blood he bought her, 
	and for her life he died. 

2.	Elect from every nation, 
	yet one o'er all the earth; 
	her charter of salvation, 
	one Lord, one faith, one birth; 
	one holy name she blesses, 
	partakes one holy food, 
	and to one hope she presses, 
	with every grace endued. 

3.	Though with a scornful wonder 
	we see her sore oppressed, 
	by schisms rent asunder, 
	by heresies distressed, 
	yet saints their watch are keeping; 
	their cry goes up, "How long?" 
	And soon the night of weeping 
	shall be the morn of song. 

4.	Mid toil and tribulation, 
	and tumult of her war, 
	she waits the consummation 
	of peace forevermore; 
	till, with the vision glorious, 
	her longing eyes are blest, 
	and the great church victorious 
	shall be the church at rest. 

5.	Yet she on earth hath union 
	with God the Three in One, 
	and mystic sweet communion 
	with those whose rest is won. 
	O happy ones and holy! 
	Lord, give us grace that we 
	like them, the meek and lowly, 
	on high may dwell with thee.

1.	A mighty fortress is our God, 
	a bulwark never failing; 
	our helper he amid the flood 
	of mortal ills prevailing.  
	For still our ancient foe 
	doth seek to work us woe; 
	his craft and power are great, 
	and armed with cruel hate, 
	on earth is not his equal.

2.	Did we in our own strength confide, 
	our striving would be losing, 
	were not the right man on our side, 
	the man of God's own choosing.
	Dost ask who that may be?  
	Christ Jesus, it is he; 
	Lord Sabaoth, his name, 
	from age to age the same, 
	and he must win the battle.

3.	And though this world, with devils filled, 
	should threaten to undo us, 
	we will not fear, for God hath willed 
	his truth to triumph through us.  
	The Prince of Darkness grim, 
	we tremble not for him; 
	his rage we can endure, 
	for lo, his doom is sure; 
	one little word shallfell him.

4.	That word above all earthly powers, 
	no thanks to them, abideth; 
	the Spirit and the gifts are ours, 
	thru him who with us sideth.  
	Let goods and kindred go, 
	this mortal life also; 
	the body they may kill; 
	God's truth abideth still; 
	his kingdom is forever.


1.	"How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord, 
	is laid for your faith in his excellent word! 
	What more can he say than to you he hath said, 
	to you who for refuge to Jesus have fled? 

2.	"Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed, 
	for I am thy God and will still give thee aid; 
	I'll strengthen and help thee, and cause thee to stand 
	upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand. 

3.	"When through deep waters I call thee to go, 
	the rivers of woe shall not thee overflow; 
	for I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless, 
	and sanctify to thee thy deepest distress. 

4.	"When through fiery trials thy pathways shall lie, 
	my grace, all-sufficient, shall be thy supply; 
	the flame shall not hurt thee; I only design 
	thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.

1.	Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war, 
	with the cross of Jesus going on before. 
	Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe; 
	forward into battle see his banners go! 
Refrain: 
	Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war, 
	with the cross of Jesus going on before. 

2.	At the sign of triumph Satan's host doth flee; 
	on then, Christian soldiers, on to victory! 
	Hell's foundations quiver at the shout of praise; 
	brothers, lift your voices, loud your anthems raise. 
	(Refrain) 

3.	Like a mighty army moves the church of God; 
	brothers, we are treading where the saints have trod. 
	We are not divided, all one body we, 
	one in hope and doctrine, one in charity. 
	(Refrain) 

4.	Crowns and thrones may perish, kingdoms rise and wane, 
	but the church of Jesus constant will remain.
	Gates of hell can never gainst that church prevail; 
	we have Christ's own promise, and that cannot fail. 
	(Refrain) 

5.	Onward then, ye people, join our happy throng, 
	blend with ours your voices in the triumph song. 
	Glory, laud, and honor unto Christ the King, 
	this through countless ages men and angels sing.
	(Refrain)