Scripture Verse

He rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. Matthew 18:13

Introduction

Words: Abi­gail B. Hyde, in Vil­lage Hymns, by Asa­hel Net­tle­ton, 1824.

Music: Wood­worth Will­iam B. Brad­bu­ry, Men­dels­sohn Col­lect­ion, or Third Book of Psal­mo­dy (New York: 1849) (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pic­ture of Hyde (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

portrait
William Bradbury (1816–1868)

Lyrics

Dear Sav­ior, if these lambs should stray,
From Thy se­cure en­clo­sure’s bound,
And, lured by world­ly joys away,
Among the thought­less crowd be found,

Remember still that they are Thine,
That Thy dear sac­red name they bear,
Think that the seal of love di­vine
The sign of co­ve­nant grace they wear.

In all their err­ing, sin­ful years,
Oh, let them ne’er for­got­ten be;
Remember all the pray­ers and tears
Which made them con­se­crate to Thee.

And when these lips no more can pray,
These eyes can weep for them no more,
Turn Thou their feet from fol­ly’s way,
The wan­der­ers to Thy fold re­store.