Jesus, with thy church abide;
be her Savior, Lord, and Guide,
while on earth her faith is tried:
we beseech thee, hear us.
Keep her life and doctrine pure;
grant her patience to endure,
trusting in thy promise sure:
we beseech thee, hear us.
May she one in doctrine be,
one in truth and charity,
winning all to faith in thee:
we beseech thee, hear us.
May she guide the poor and blind,
seek the lost until she find,
and the broken-hearted bind:
we beseech thee, hear us.
Save her love from growing cold,
make her watchmen strong and bold,
fence her round, thy peaceful fold:
we beseech thee, hear us.
May her lamp of truth be bright,
bid her bear aloft its light
through the realms of heathen night:
we beseech thee, hear us.
Arm her soldiers with the cross,
brave to suffer toil or loss,
counting earthly gain but dross:
we beseech thee, hear us.
May she holy triumphs win,
overthrow the hosts of sin,
gather all the nations in:
we beseech thee, hear us.
Thomas Benson Pollack, 1871
Read 1 Thessalonians 1:11-12
(For “Jesus, With Thy Church Abide,” the hymnwriter intentionally copied the style of Psalm 136 with its refrain after every verse for this powerful prayer for the church. Are these the kinds of things we pray when we pray for our church and for each other? What if they were? How would our churches be impacted? I think we would see a difference. help us Lord, seek the lost until we find them. We beseech Thee, hear us. He will and He does.)
Here’s another Abide hymn: Abide With Me