Gracious Savior, Gentle Shepherd

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.

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.

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.

Taught to lisp Thy ho­ly prais­es

Which on earth Thy child­ren sing

Both with lips and hearts

un­feign­èd

Glad thank-of­fer­ings may they bring;

Then with all the saints in glo­ry

Join to praise their Lord and King.