C.D. Warner, et al., comp. The Library of the World’s Best Literature.
An Anthology in Thirty Volumes. 1917.

Gentle Jesus, Meek and Mild

By Charles Wesley (1707–1788)

GENTLE Jesus, meek and mild,

Look upon a little child;

Pity my simplicity,

Suffer me to come to Thee.

Fain I would to thee be brought:

Dearest God, forbid it not;

Give me, dearest God, a place

In the kingdom of thy grace.

Put thy hands upon my head,

Let me in thine arms be stayed;

Let me lean upon thy breast,—

Lull me, lull me, Lord, to rest.

Hold me fast in thy embrace,

Let me see thy smiling face.

Give me, Lord, thy blessing give;

Pray for me, and I shall live.

I shall live the simple life,

Free from sin’s uneasy strife,

Sweetly ignorant of ill,

Innocent and happy still.

Oh that I may never know

What the wicked people do!

Sin is contrary to thee.

Sin is the forbidden tree.

Keep me from the great offense,

Guard my helpless innocence;

Hide me, from all evil hide,

Self, and stubbornness, and pride.

Lamb of God, I look to thee;

Thou shalt my example be:

Thou art gentle, meek, and mild,

Thou wast once a little child.

Fain I would be as thou art:

Give me thy obedient heart.

Thou art pitiful and kind:

Let me have thy loving mind.

Meek and lowly may I be:

Thou art all humility.

Let me to my betters bow:

Subject to thy parents thou.

Let me above all fulfill

God my heavenly Father’s will;

Never his good Spirit grieve,

Only to his glory live.

Thou didst live to God alone,

Thou didst never seek thine own;

Thou thy self didst never please,

God was all thy happiness.

Loving Jesu, gentle Lamb,

In Thy gracious hands I am.

Make me, Savior, what thou art,

Live thyself within my heart.

I shall then show forth thy praise,

Serve thee all my happy days:

Then the world shall always see

Christ, the holy Child, in me.

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