Clinging to Thee

Representative Text

1 O Holy Savior! Friend unseen,
Since on thine arm thou bid'st me lean,
Help me, throughout life's changing scene,
By faith to cling to thee!

2 What though the world deceitful prove,
And earthly friends and joys remove?
With patient, uncomplaining love
Still I would cling to thee.

3 Though faith and hope awhile be tried,
I ask not, need not aught beside:
How safe, how calm, how satisfied,
The souls that cling to thee.


Source: Lead Me, Guide Me (2nd ed.) #353

Author: Charlotte Elliott

Elliott, Charlotte, daughter of Charles Elliott, of Clapham and Brighton, and granddaughter of the Rev. H. Venn, of Huddersfield, was born March 18, 1789. The first 32 years of her life were spent mostly at Clapham. In 1823 she removed to Brighton, and died there Sept. 22, 1871. To her acquaintance with Dr. C. Malan, of Geneva, is attributed much of the deep spiritual-mindedness which is so prominent in her hymns. Though weak and feeble in body, she possessed a strong imagination, and a well-cultured and intellectual mind. Her love of poetry and music was great, and is reflected in her verse. Her hymns number about 150, a large percentage of which are in common use. The finest and most widely known of these are, "Just as I am” and "My God… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: O Holy Savior, Friend unseen, Since on Thine arm Thou bidd'st me lean
Title: Clinging to Thee
Author: Charlotte Elliott
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Notes

The second line is sometimes given as "The faint, the weak on Thee may lean,".

O Holy Saviour, Friend unseen, p. 836, ii. In the 1835 ed. of The Invalid's Hymn Book, No. 63, this hymn begins,"Holy Saviour, Friend unseen."

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, New Supplement (1907)

Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 8 of 8)
Text

African American Heritage Hymnal #408

Church Hymnal, Mennonite #388

Text

Lead Me, Guide Me (2nd ed.) #353

Text

Lift Every Voice and Sing II #94

TextPage Scan

The A.M.E. Zion Hymnal #281

The Baptist Hymnal #318

TextScoreAudio

The Cyber Hymnal #4982

TextPage Scan

Worship and Service Hymnal #245

Include 297 pre-1979 instances
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