As helpless as a child who clings

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As helpless as a child who clings

Author: James Drummond Burns
Published in 44 hymnals

Audio files: MIDI

Representative Text

1 As helpless as a child who clings,
Fast to his father's arm,
And casts his weakness on the strength
That keeps him safe from harm;
So I, my Father, cling to Thee,
And every passing hour
Would link my earthly feebleness
To Thine Almighty power.

2 As trustful as a child who looks
Up in his mother's face,
And all his little griefs and fears
Forgets in her embrace;
So I to Thee, my Saviour, look
And in Thy face Divine,
Can read the love that will sustain
As weak a faith as mine.

3 As loving as a child who sits
Close by his parent's knee,
And knows no want while it can have
That sweet society;
So, sitting at Thy feet, my heart
Would all its love outpour,
And pray that Thou wouldst teach me, Lord,
To love Thee more and more.

Amen.

Source: Voices of Praise: for school and church and home #174

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Author: James Drummond Burns

Burns, James Drummond, M.A., was born at Edinburgh, February 18, 1823. He studied and graduated M.A. at the University of Edinburgh. In 1845 he became Free Church minister of Dunblane, but resigned through failing health, in 1848, and took charge of the Presbyterian Church at Funchal, Madeira. In 1855 he became minister of Hampstead Presbyterian Church, London. Died at Mentone, Nov. 27, 1864, and was buried in Highgate Cemetery, London. His hymns appeared in:— (l) The Vision of Prophecy: and other Poems (Edin., Edmonston and Douglas). This was originally published in 1854, and enlarged in 1858. The Poems are distinguished by vivid colouring and poetic imagination, along with directness, delicacy of execution, pensive sweetness, and t… Go to person page >

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Text Information

Text Information

First Line:	As helpless as a child who clings
Author:	James Drummond Burns
Language:	English
Copyright:	Public Domain

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Notes

As helpless as the [a] child who clings. J. D. Burns. [Trust.] First published in his little book of prayers and hymns, The Evening Hymn, 1857, No. 9, in 3 stanzas of 8 lines, and headed "Childlike Trust." It is given in the Appendix to Dr. Walker's Cheltenham Collection, the new edition of Stowell's Collection (First ed., 1831), and others. It is a tender, childlike hymn, for private use, and is sometimes given as a hymn for children.

-- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

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