Scripture Verse

He shall feed His flock like a shepherd; He shall gather the lambs with His arms, and carry them in His bosom. Isaiah 40:11

Introduction

portrait
John Keble (1792–1866)

Words: Jane E. Lee­son, 1845, & John Ke­ble, 1857, alt.

Music: Dis­miss­al Will­iam L. Vin­er, 1845 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tune:

If you know where to get a good pic­ture of Lee­son or Vin­er (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

Gracious Sav­ior, gen­tle Shep­herd,
Our lit­tle ones are dear to Thee;
Gathered with Thine arms and car­ried
In Thy bo­som may they be
Sweetly, gent­ly, safe­ly tend­ed,
From all want and dan­ger free.

Tender Shep­herd, ne­ver leave them
From Thy fold to go as­tray;
By Thy look of love di­rect­ed,
May they walk the nar­row way;
Thus di­rect them, and pro­tect them,
Lest they fall an ea­sy prey.

Let Thy ho­ly Word in­struct them:
Fill their minds with heav’n­ly light;
Let Thy love and grace con­strain them,
To ap­prove what­e’er is right,
Take Thine ea­sy yoke and wear it,
And to prove Thy bur­den light.

Cleanse their hearts from sin­ful fol­ly
In the stream Thy love sup­plied;
Mingled streams of blood and water
Flowing from Thy wound­ed side;
And to heav’n­ly pas­tures lead them,
Where Thine own still wa­ters glide.

illustration
Christ the Shepherd
St. John the Baptist Anglican Church
Ashfield, New South Wales