Lord of the Church, we humbly pray

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Lord of the Church, we humbly pray

Author: Edward Osler; Based on: Charles Wesley (1749)
Published in 55 hymnals

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Representative Text

1 Lord of the Church, we humbly pray
For those who guide us in Thy way,
And speak Thy holy word;
With love divine their hearts inspire,
And touch their lips with hallowed fire,
And needful strength afford.

2 Help them to preach the truth of God,
Redemption through the Saviour's blood;
Nor let the Spirit cease
On all the Church His gifts to shower;
To them a messenger of power,
To us, of life and peace.

3 So may they live to Thee alone;
Then hear the welcome word,"Well done!"
And take their crown above;
Enter into their Master's joy,
And all eternity employ
In praise, and bliss, and love.

Amen.

The Hymnal: revised and enlarged as adopted by the General Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America in the year of our Lord 1892

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Author: Edward Osler

Osler, Edward, was born at Falmouth in January, 1798, and was educated for the medical profession, first by Dr. Carvosso, at Falmouth, and then at Guy's Hospital, London. From 1819 to 1836 he was house surgeon at the Swansea Infirmary. He then removed to London, and devoted himself to literary pursuits. For some time he was associated with the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, both in London and at Bath. In 1841 he became the Editor of the Royal Cornwall Gazette, and took up his residence at Truro. He retained that appointment till his death, at Truro, March 7, 1863. For the Linnaean Society he wrote Burrowing and Boring Marine Animals. He also published Church and Bible; The Voyage: a Poem written at Sea, and in the West Indies,… Go to person page >

Based on: Charles Wesley

Charles Wesley, M.A. was the great hymn-writer of the Wesley family, perhaps, taking quantity and quality into consideration, the great hymn-writer of all ages. Charles Wesley was the youngest son and 18th child of Samuel and Susanna Wesley, and was born at Epworth Rectory, Dec. 18, 1707. In 1716 he went to Westminster School, being provided with a home and board by his elder brother Samuel, then usher at the school, until 1721, when he was elected King's Scholar, and as such received his board and education free. In 1726 Charles Wesley was elected to a Westminster studentship at Christ Church, Oxford, where he took his degree in 1729, and became a college tutor. In the early part of the same year his religious impressions were much deepene… Go to person page >

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First Line:	Lord of the Church, we humbly pray
Author:	Edward Osler
Based on:	Charles Wesley (1749)
Meter:	8.8.6.8.8.6
Language:	English
Copyright:	Public Domain

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Notes

Lord of the Church, we humbly pray. E. Osler. [Whitsuntide.] First published in Hall's Mitre Hymn Book, 1836, No. 219, in 3 stanzas of 6 lines, and again, with slight alterations, in the author's Church and King, April, 1837, p. 112. It is an altered version by Osler of Charles Wesley's "Thou, Jesu, Thou my breast inspire" (q.v.). Wesley's original text, however, is scarcely recognizable in the form given to it by Osler, save in the last six lines, which are almost entirely from Wesley. The Irish Church Hymnal follows the text of the Mitre. Its use is extensive.

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

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