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

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;

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.]

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.

Source: A Selection of Hymns for Public Worship. In four parts (10th ed.) (Gadsby's Hymns) #804