Jesu, Blessed Saviour

Alternate Title: Jesus, Blessed Saviour

For The New Year

Words: Frances Ridley Havergal (1836-1879) at Leamington in November, 1872

Music: “Hermas” by F. R. Havergal
Meter: 65 (12 lines)

Source: Mary Palmer and John Farmer, eds., Church Sunday School Hymn-Book (London: Church of England Sunday-School Institute, 1892), pp. 46-7, #49.

 

1. Jesu, blessed Saviour,
   Help us now to raise
Songs of glad thanksgiving,
   Songs of holy praise.
O how kind and gracious
   Thou hast always been!
O how many blessings
   Every day has seen!
      Jesu, blessed Saviour,
         Now our praises hear,
      For Thy grace and favour
         Crowning all the year.

 

2. Jesu holy Saviour,
   Only Thou canst tell
How we often stumbled,
   How we often fell!
All our sins (so many!),
   Saviour, Thou dost know;
In Thy blood most precious,
   Wash us white as snow.
      Jesu, blessed Saviour,
         Keep us in Thy fear,
      Let Thy grace and favour
         Pardon all the year.

 

3. Jesu, loving Saviour,
   Only Thou dost know
All that may befall us
   As we onward go.
So we humbly pray Thee,
   Take us by the hand,
Lead us ever upward
   To the Better Land.
      Jesu, blessed Saviour,
         Keep us ever near,
      Let Thy grace and favour
         Shield us all the year.

 

4. Jesu, precious Saviour,
   Make us all Thine own,
Make us Thine for ever,
   Make us Thine alone.
Let each day, each moment,
   Of this glad New-year,
Be for Jesus only,
   Jesu, Saviour dear.
      Then, O blessed Saviour,
         Never need we fear,
      For Thy grace and favour
         Crown our bright New-year!

 

Sheet Music from Mary Palmer and John Farmer, eds., Church Sunday School Hymn-Book (London: Church of England Sunday-School Institute, 1892), pp. 46-7, #49.

Note:

Original title "New Year Hymn" found in Maria V. G. Havergal, ed., The Poetical Works of Francis Ridley Havergal (Toronto: Toronto Willard Tract Depot, 1860), pp. 350-2. Copies are found both at the Internet Archive, Poetical Works, and Google Books, Poetical Works.

This poem also occurs in several compilations of her works including Life chords, comprising 'Zenith', 'Loyal responses' and other poems (London: James Nisbet & Co., 1880), "Chords for Children," pp. 114-5.

Also found in George Slayter Barrett, E J Hopkins, Josiah Booth eds., Congregational Church Hymnal (for the Congregational Union of England and Wales; Hodder and Stoughton, 1887), pp. 191-2, #726.

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