The Son of God Goes Forth to War
A hymn in praise of St Stephen, the first Christian martyr.
Introduction
In The Man Who Would Be King (1888) by Rudyard Kipling, this hymn is sung by Dan’s friend Peachey Carnehan right at the end of the tale as he is going mad, as if it has meant something to him for a long time. It is a hymn for the Feast of St Stephen, the first Christian martyr, who is remembered each year on December 26th.
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.
That martyr first,* whose eagle eye
Could pierce beyond the grave;
Who saw his Master in the sky,
And called on him to save.
Like him, with pardon on his tongue,
In midst of mortal pain,
He prayed for them that did the wrong:
Who follows in his train?
A glorious band,* the chosen few
On whom the Spirit came;
Twelve valiant saints, their hope they knew,
And mocked the cross and flame.
They met the tyrant’s brandished steel,
The lion’s gory mane;
They bowed their heads the death to feel:
Who follows in their train?
A noble army, men and boys,
The matron and the maid,
Around the Saviour’s throne rejoice,
In robes of light arrayed.
They climbed the steep ascent of heaven,
Through peril, toil and pain;
O God, to us may grace be given,
To follow in their train.
From The Poetical Works of Reginald Heber (1874) by Reginald Heber (1783-1826).
* That is, St Stephen, the first Christian martyr. See Acts 6-7.
* That is, the Twelve Apostles. Their number, after the suicide of Judas, was restored to twelve by the election of Matthias. See Charles Dickens on Twelve Poor Men and True.
