Irish preacher Thomas Kelly (1769-1855) wrote a number of good hymns. One of my favorites is “Poor and afflicted, Lord are thine.” “Praise the Saviour, ye who know him” has an unique rhyming scheme, coupled with a somewhat distinctive meter, with three lines of 8 syllables, followed by one line of 5 syllables. Its chief setting seems to be with the German melody Acclaim.
Who can tell how much we owe him?
Gladly let us render to him,
All we are and have.
2. Jesus is the name that charms us,
That for conflict fits and arms us;
Nothing moves, and nothing harms us,
When we trust in him.
3. Trust in him, ye saints, for ever,
He is faithful, changing never;
Neither force nor guile can sever
Those he loves from him.
4. Keep us, Lord, O keep us cleaving
To thyself, and still believing,
Till the time of our receiving
Promised joy in heav’n.
5. Then we shall be where we would be,
Then we shall be what we should be;
That which is not now, nor could be,
Will then be our own.
Thomas Kelly had an earlier hymn that began “Praise the Saviour, ye who know him, Jesus well deserves your praise.” The hymn above seems to have been added to newer editions, possibly by around 1850. In Hymns on Various Passages of Scripture, it is Hymn 228, associated with the Scripture “O Lord, I will praise thee.”—Isaiah xii.1
Click HERE to read the hymn story posted by Melody Publications.
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