Forth in Thy Name, O Lord, I Go

Our closing hymn today at St. John, Charles Wesley's "Forth in Thy Name, O Lord, I Go," was a great hymn of sending in response to the Matt. 21 vineyard parable of the two sons in the Gospel lesson.  The hymn first appeared in 1749 in Charles Wesley's "Hymns and Sacred Poems."   The wonderful tune LAKEWOOD by Barry Bobb was composed for this text at the ordination of Ronald Roma in 1980.  Wesley's original hymn had six stanzas, however his third stanza was omitted by brother John Wesley in 1780 when John published his "A Collection of Hymns for the use of the People called Methodists."  The omitted stanza reads:  Preserve me from my calling's snare, And hide my simple heart above, Above the thorns of choking care, The gilded baits of worldly love.


1.  Forth in Thy name, O Lord, I go,
     My daily labor to pursue,
     Thee, only Thee, resolved to know
     In all I think or speak or do.


2.  The task Thy wisdom has assigned,
     O let me cheerfully fulfill;
     In all my works Thy presence find,
     And prove Thy good and perfect will.


3.  Thee may I set at my right hand,
     Whose eyes my inmost substance see,
     And labor on at Thy command,
     And offer all my works to Thee.


4.  Give me to bear Thy easy yoke,
     And ev'ry moment watch and pray,
     And still to things eternal look,
     And hasten to Thy glorious day.


5.  For Thee delightfully employ
     Whate'er Thy bounteous grace has giv'n,
     And run my course with even joy,
     And closely walk with Thee to heav'n.