I think you are right about that but I always thought the change was for the hymnals in the 20th century. I have seen it used in every church I know. The lyrics can be applied to any moral crusade. The song misuses Bible passages which have real meanings, as though they were only metaphors for Abolitionism. Howe was a Unitarian, though raised a Calvinist, and that is of course the way that Unitarians use the Bible to this day.
Many if not all the songs in church, are sung with no thought about the real meaning of the lyrics. Baptists use it as if it were about the fulfillment of end-time prophecy. Some use it as if it were about soul winning evangelism. Some use it on July 4th as if it were a patriotic song. In all these cases the word "live" rather than "die" seems to make more sense to them.
I am fond of correcting the doctrine of the lyrics in my own church song leading. "Let's sing number 302, "In the Bleak Mid-winter". Of course we all know that Jesus was born in the spring, but it certainly was a deep cold winter spiritually. Standing together as we sing!"