Ye lambs of Christ's fold, ye weaklings in faith

Verse 1

Ye lambs of Christ’s fold, ye weaklings in faith, Who long to lay hold on life by his death; Who fain would believe him, and in your best room Would gladly receive him, but fear to presume;

Verse 2

Remember one thing, O may it sink deep; Our Shepherd and King cares much for his sheep; To trust him endeavour; the work is his own; He makes the believer, and gives him his crown.

Verse 3

Those feeble desires, those wishes so weak, ’Tis Jesus inspires, and bids you still seek; His Spirit will cherish the life he first gave; You never shall perish if Jesus can save.

Verse 4

Proud lions, that boast when lusty and young, Soon find, to their cost, self-confidence wrong; Tormented with hunger, they feel their strength vain; For famine is stronger, and gnaws them with pain.

Verse 5

But lambs are preserved, though helpless in kind; When lions are starved, they nourishment find; Their Shepherd upholds them, when faint, in his arms; And feeds them, and folds them, and guards them from harms.

Verse 6

Though sometimes we see the case is not thus; Bad shepherds will flee, yet what’s that to us? The Shepherd that chose us must surely be good, Who rather than lose us would shed his heart’s blood.

Verse 7

Blest soul that can say, “Christ only I seek.” Wait for him alway; be constant though weak; The Lord whom thou seekest will not tarry long; And to him the weakest is dear as the strong.