Let Me to Thy Bosom Fly – Paul M. Williams

Psalms 57:1

If I was to task a man with the arduous job of naming the greatest hymn ever written, I’m sure that opinions would abound.  Take, for instance, Charles Wesley; it has been calculated that he wrote no fewer than 6000 hymns during his lifetime. Of these 6000, many are in agreement in concluding that the greatest of these (and arguably they would say, the greatest hymn ever written) is the hymn, “Jesus, Lover of my Soul”.  No one is quite certain as to the events that led Charles to pen these words.  One story tells how that on one Atlantic crossing, as Charles returned to England, a frightening storm arose at sea.  Just as it seemed that the ship would go down, threatening to take all on board with it, a frightened bird flew into Wesley’s cabin through an open window and sought safety and protection in the folds of his coat!  

 

Jesus, Lover of my soul,

let me to thy bosom fly,

while the nearer waters roll,

while the tempest still is high:

hide me, O my Savior, hide,

till the storm of life be past;

safe into the haven guide,

O receive my soul at last.

 

Other refuge have I none,

hangs my helpless soul on thee;

leave, ah! leave me not alone,

still support and comfort me!

All my trust on thee is stayed;

all my help from thee I bring;

cover my defenseless head

with the shadow of thy wing.