Jesus, Meek and Gentle

Representative Text

Jesus, meek and gentle,
Son of God Most High,
Pitying, loving Saviour,
Hear Thy children's cry.

2 Pardon our offences,
Loose our captive chains,
Break down every idol
Which our soul detains.

3 Give us holy freedom;
Fill our hearts with love;
Draw us, holy Jesus,
To the realms above.

4 Lead us on our journey;
Be thyself the way
Through terrestrial darkness
To celestial day.

5 Jesus, meek and gentle,
Son of God Most High,
Gracious, loving Saviour,
Hear thy children's cry.

AMEN.

Source: The A.M.E. Zion Hymnal: official hymnal of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church #251

Author: George Rundle Prynne

George Rundle Prynne studied at S. Catherine's College, Cambridge, where he graduated B.A. 1839, M.A. 1861. He was ordained Deacon in 1841, and Priest in 1842. He afterwards became Curate of S. Andrew's, Clifton, and entered upon his present incumbency of S. Peter's, Plymouth, in 1848. He has published some sermons and manuals. --Annotations of the Hymnal, Charles Hutchins, M.A. 1872.… Go to person page >

Notes

Jesu, meek and gentle. G. R. Prynne. [A Child’s Prayer.] Written in 1856, and published in the author's Hymn Suited for the Services of the Church, &c, 1858, in 5 stanzas of 4 lines. In 1861 it was given in Hymns Ancient & Modern and subsequently in most collections published in Great Britain and America. The author has also republished it in his work The Soldier's Dying Visions, and Other Poems, 1881, and has added the following note:—

"This little hymn has found its way into most English hymn-books. It is commonly thought to have been written for children, and on this supposition I have been asked to simplify the fourth verse. The hymn was not, however, written specially for children. Where it is used in collections of hymns for children, it might be well to alter the last two lines in the fourth verse thus:—

”Through earth's passing darkness,
To heaven's endless day."

Usually the original text is given as in Hymns Ancient & Modern, 1875.

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 7 of 7)

Church Gospel Songs and Hymns #120

Great Songs of the Church (Revised) #572

Praise for the Lord (Expanded Edition) #355

Page Scan

Sacred Selections for the Church #133

TextPage Scan

The A.M.E. Zion Hymnal #251

The Baptist Hymnal #383

TextScoreAudio

The Cyber Hymnal #3366

Include 237 pre-1979 instances
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