O Holy Savior, Friend unseen,

327 Flemming. 8. 8. 8. 6.

1 O Holy Savior, Friend unseen,
   Since on Thine arm Thou bid'st me lean,
   Help me, throughout life's changing scene,
   By faith to cling to Thee!

2 What though the world deceitful prove,
   And earthly friends and joys remove?
   With patient, uncomplaining love,
   Still would I cling to Thee.

3 Tho' oft I seem to tread alone
   Life's dreary waste, with thorns o'ergrown,
   Thy voice of love, in gentlest tone,
   Still whispers, "Cling to me!"

4 Though faith and hope awhile be tried,
   I ask not, need not aught beside:
   How safe, how calm, how satisfied,
   The souls that clings to Thee.
                         Charlotte Elliott
                         The Methodist Hymnal 1939 edition

<idle musing>
For a fairly modern hymn, this one seems to suffer from a lot of variation. Cyberhymnal inserts three verses, none of which contain our third verse:

2. Blessed with this fellowship divine,
   Take what Thou wilt, I’ll ne’er repine;
   E’en as the branches to the vine,
   My soul would cling to Thee.

3. Far from her home, fatigued, oppressed,
   Here she has found her place of rest
   An exile still, yet not unblest,
   While she can cling to Thee.

6. Blessed is my lot, whate’er befall;
   What can disturb me, who appall,
   While as my strength, my rock, my all,
   All, Savior, I cling to Thee!

Interesting side note: she was the author of the famous Billy Graham hymn, Just as I am.
</idle musing>