Ancient and Modern ‎#748

748. O Jesus, I have promised

1 O Jesus, I have promised
to serve thee to the end;
be thou for ever near me,
my Master and my Friend:
I shall not fear the battle
if thou art by my side,
nor wander from the pathway
if thou wilt be my guide.

2 O let me feel thee near me:
the world is ever near;
I see the sights that dazzle,
the tempting sounds I hear;
my foes are ever near me,
around me and within;
but, Jesus, draw thou nearer,
and shield my soul from sin.

3 O let me hear thee speaking
in accents clear and still
above the storms of passion,
the murmurs of self-will;
O speak to reassure me,
to hasten or control;
O speak, and make me listen,
thou guardian of my soul.

4 O Jesus, thou hast promised
to all who follow thee,
that where thou art in glory
there shall thy servant be;
and, Jesus, I have promised
to serve thee to the end:
O give me grace to follow,
my Master and my Friend.

5 O let me see thy foot-marks,
and in them plant mine own;
my hope to follow duly
is in thy strength alone:
O guide me, call me, draw me,
uphold me to the end;
and then in heaven receive me,
my Saviour and my Friend.

Text Information

• First Line: O Jesus, I have promised
• Author: John Ernest Bode (1816-1874)
• Meter: 76 76 D
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 2013
• Scripture:
  Mark 1:14-20
  ;
  John 15
  ;
  John 17:24
• Topic: Christian Initiation; Children and All-Age Worship; Commitment; Discipleship; Future hope; Guidance; Proper 18: Year C; Proper 19: Year B; Self-offering; Sin; Temptation; The Fifth Sunday of Lent: Year B; The First Sunday of Lent: Year C; The Sixth Sunday of Easter: Year B; Vocation
• Notes: May also be sung to THORNBURY (505).

Tune Information

• Name: WOLVERCOTE
• Composer: William Harold Ferguson (1872-1950)
• Meter: 76 76 D
• Key: A Major
• Copyright: Reproduced by permission of Oxford University Press
• Notes: Now Pubic Domain