706    7s     J. Hart
Christ the Christian’s Only Help. Ps. 27. 9

1 Gracious God, thy children keep;
  Jesus, guide thy silly sheep;
  Fix, O fix our fickle souls;
  Lord, direct us; we are fools.

2 Bid us in thy care confide;
  Keep us near thy wounded side;
  From thee let us never stir,
  For thou know’st how soon we err.

3 Lay us low before thy feet,
  Safe from pride and self-conceit;
  Be the language of our souls,
  “Lord, protect us; we are fools.”

4 [O defend thy purchased flock;
  See, the insulting Ishmaels mock,
  Guard us from a world of sin;
  Foes without, and worse within.

5 Look upon the unequal war;
  Saviour, do not go too far;
  Crafty is the foe, and strong;
  Saviour, do not tarry long.]

6 By thy word we fain would steer,
  Fain thy Spirit’s dictates hear;
  Save us from the rocks and shelves,
  Save us chiefly from ourselves.

7 Never, never may we dare,
  What we’re not to say we are;
  Make us well our vileness know;
  Keep us very, very low.