"Gracious Savior, Gentle Shepherd"
                      by Jane E. Leeson, 1807-1882              
                              Text From:
                   THE HANDBOOK TO THE LUTHERAN HYMNAL
           (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1941)p.449



	1. Gracious Savior, gentle Shepherd,
	Children all are dear to Thee;
	Gathered with Thine arms and carried
	In Thy bosom may they be;
	Sweetly, fondly, safely, tended,
	From all want and danger free.

	2. Tender Shepherd, never leave them
	From Thy fold to go astray;
	By Thy warning love directed,
	May they walk the narrow way!
	Thus direct them, thus defend them,
	Lest they fall an easy prey.

	3. Cleanse their hearts from sinful folly
	In the stream Thy love supplied,
	Mingled stream of blood and water
	Flowing from Thy wounded side;
	And to heavenly pastures lead them,
	Where Thine own still waters glide.

	4. Let Thy holy Word instruct them;
	Fill their minds with heavenly light;
	Let Thy powerful grace constrain them
	To approve whate'er is right;
	Let them feel Thy yoke is easy,
	Let them prove Thy burden light.

	5. Taught to lisp Thy holy praises
	Which on earth Thy children sing,
	Both with lips and hearts, unfeigned,
	Glad thank-offerings may they bring;
	Then with all the saints in glory
	Join to praise their Lord and King.

       _______________________________________
        Notes:
        Hymn #627 from _The Handbook to the Lutheran Hymnal_
        Text: Mark 10:14
        Author: Jane E. Leeson, 1842       
        Tune: "Sieh, hier bin ich"
        1st Published in: _Geistreiches Gesangbuch_
        Town: Darmstadt, 1698
        ______________________________________________________________
        This text was converted to ascii format for Project Wittenberg
           by Debbie Harris and is in the public domain. You may
         freely distribute, copy or print this text. Please direct any
            comments or suggestions to: Rev. Robert E. Smith of the
              Walther Library at Concordia Theological Seminary.

                          E-mail: bob_smith@ctsfw.edu

          Surface Mail: 6600 N. Clinton St., Ft. Wayne, IN 46825 USA
            Phone: (219) 452-2148              Fax: (219) 452-2126
        ______________________________________________________________