Verse 1
Shepherd of souls, lay to thine hand,
And vindicate thine injur’d cause,
The troublers of thy flock withstand,
The foes, and haters of thy cross,
Who cause thy little ones to stray,
And lead them down an easier way.

Verse 2
Thy poor, opprest disciples, Lord,
In peril ’mongst false brethren see,
And O! Thy timely help afford
To us, that look for help in thee,
Who hearst the tempted soul’s complaint,
And givest power to all that faint.

Verse 3
We beckon’d to our friends for aid,
Our partners in the other ship:
They came; our easy trust betray’d,
They came—to sink us in the deep,
Our vessel ’gainst their own to break,
And then to gather up the wreck.

Verse 4
Deceitful workers, in thy name,
With guile they catch the simple heart,
The feeble followers of the Lamb
They make them from thy paths depart,
Remove from their high calling’s prize,
And rob them of their paradise.

Verse 5
Deceiving, and deceiv’d, they glide
Down the smooth stream of carnal peace,
The gate thro’ which they pass is wide,
And broad their path of righteousness,
No strife, no conflict, and no care,
No cross, or holiness is there.

Verse 6
Perfect at once, and pure, and clean,
Yet foul, imperfect, and impure,
They sin, and bless themselves in sin,
And boast of their salvation sure:
Saviour, the fond delusion shew,
For O! They know not what they do.

Verse 7
Alas, for them, that will not know
The Lord abhors their sacrifice,
Who weak, unstable souls o’erthrow,
And on their brethren’s ruin rise,
Offer thee fraud, and robbery,
And fawn, and lie, and steal for thee.

Verse 8
Forgive them, Lord, but O! Restrain,
No longer let their guile proceed:
O might they their first love regain,
And simply in thy statutes tread,
Their faith by their obedience prove,
And rise with us to perfect love.