The Son of God goes forth to war
The Son of God goes forth to war. Reginald Heber* (1783-1826).
First published with the title ‘St Stephen’s Day’ (the day after Christmas Day) in Heber’s Hymns written and adapted to the Weekly Church Service of the Year (1827) in eight 4-line stanzas. Stanzas 3 and 4 refer specifically to the martyrdom of Stephen (Acts 7), followed by other Christian martyrs:
The Son of God goes forth to war, A kingly crown to gain:His blood-red banner streams afar! Who follows in his train?Who best can drink his cup of woe, Triumphant over pain,Who patient bears his cross below, He follows in his train!
The martyr first, whose eagle eye Could pierce beyond the grave;Who saw his Master in the sky,...
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MLA style (see MLA Style Manual and Guide to Scholarly Publishing, 3rd Ed.)
. "The Son of God goes forth to war."
The Canterbury Dictionary of Hymnology. Canterbury Press. Web. 17 Jan. 2026.<
http://www.hymnology.co.uk/t/the-son-of-god-goes-forth-to-war>.
Chicago style (see The Chicago Manual of Style, 16th Ed.)
. "The Son of God goes forth to war."
The Canterbury Dictionary of Hymnology. Canterbury Press, accessed January 17, 2026,
http://www.hymnology.co.uk/t/the-son-of-god-goes-forth-to-war.