Lord, Thy Children Guide And Keep

This is the original text of this hymn as it appears in the 1864 enlarged edition Psalms and Hymns (1854):

LORD, Thy children guide and keep,
As with feeble steps they press
On the pathway rough and steep
Through this weary wilderness .
Holy Jesu, day by day
Lead us in the narrow way.

There are stony ways to tread;–
Give the strength we sorely lack:
There are tangled paths to thread;–
Light us, lest we miss the track.
Holy Jesu, day by day
Lead us in the narrow way.

There are sandy wastes that lie
Cold and sunless, vast and drear,
Where the feeble faint and die;–
Grant us grace to persevere.
Holy Jesu, day by day
Lead us in the narrow way.

There are soft and flowery glades
Decked with golden-fruited trees;
Sunny slopes, and scented shades;–
Keep us, Lord, from slothful ease.
Holy Jesu, day by day
Lead us in the narrow way.

Upward still to purer heights,
Onward yet to scenes more blest,
Calmer regions, clearer lights,
Till we reach the promised rest.
Holy Jesu, day by day
Lead us in the narrow way. Amen.

Words: William W. How, 1864*.
Tune (Church Hymns): “Requiem” Wilhelm Schultes, 1816-1879.
Meter: 7.7.7.7.7.7.

*John Julian indicates in the Dictionary of Hymnology that this hymn was first published in the 1854 edition of Psalms and Hymns, however this appears to be a typo since it does not appear in the 1854 edition or subsequent reprints. It first appears in the 1864 enlarged edition of Psalms and Hymns.

This is the text of this hymn as it appears in Church Hymns (1871) where it is listed under General Hymns:

Lord, Thy children guide and keep,
As with feeble steps they press
On the pathway rough and steep
Through this weary wilderness.
Holy Jesu, day by day
Lead us in the narrow way.

There are stony ways to tread;
Give the strength we sorely lack:
There are tangled paths to thread;
Light us, lest we miss the track.
Holy Jesu, day by day
Lead us in the narrow way.

There are sandy wastes that lie
Cold and sunless, vast and drear,
Where the feeble faint and die;
Grant us grace to persevere.
Holy Jesu, day by day
Lead us in the narrow way.

There are soft and flowery glades
Decked with golden-fruited trees;
Sunny slopes, and scented shades;
Keep us, Lord, from slothful ease.
Holy Jesu, day by day
Lead us in the narrow way.

Upward still to purer heights,
Onward yet to scenes more blest,
Calmer regions, clearer lights,
Till we reach the promised rest.
Holy Jesu, day by day
Lead us in the narrow way. Amen.