Forth in Thy Name, O Lord

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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 hath 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 mine in-most substance see, and labor on at thy command, and offer all my works to thee.

4. For thee delightfully employ what e'er thy bounteous grace hath given; and run my course with even joy, and closely walk with thee to heaven.

Words by: Charles Wesley
Music by: John Hatton

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Story of the hymn Forth in Thy Name, O Lord, I Go

"Forth in Thy Name, O Lord, I Go" (often titled simply "Forth in Thy Name, O Lord") is a classic hymn by Charles Wesley (1707-1788), first published in 1749. It is widely regarded as one of the finest English hymns about daily Christian work and vocation.

Origins and Publication

The hymn first appeared in Hymns and Sacred Poems, Volume I (1749), in the section "Hymns for Believers," under the heading "Before Work." It originally had six four-line stanzas. Charles Wesley wrote it as a practical prayer for believers starting their daily labor - ideally suited for Monday morning rather than the close of Sunday worship.

It was later included (with some stanzas omitted) in John Wesley's A Collection of Hymns for the Use of the People Called Methodists (1780), in the section "For Believers Working." Most modern hymnals follow John's practice of dropping the original third and fifth stanzas. The hymn appears in The United Methodist Hymnal (1989) as No. 438 under the title "Forth in Thy Name."

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