"Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me"

"Jesus, Savior, pilot me
over life's tempestuous sea;
Unknown waves before me roll,
hiding rocks and treacherous shoal;
Chart and compass come from Thee,
Jesus, Savior, pilot me.

As a mother stills her child,
Thou canst hush the ocean wild;
Boisterous waves obey They will
when Thous sayest to them 'Be still!'
Wondrous Sovereign of the sea,
Jesus, Savior, pilot me.

When at last I near the shore,
and the fearful breakers roar
'Twixt me and the peaceful rest,
Then when leaning on Thy breast,
May I hear Thee say to me,
'Fear not, I will pilot thee.'"
Edward Hopper

Edward Hopper was born in New York City on February 17, 1818. After attending seminary he pastored two Presbyterian churches in the New York area with great distinction.

In 1870, he began serving as the Pastor of a small church in the New York harbor area - the Church of Sea and Land - where he remained for the rest of his life. Here he ministered to the sailors who were working on the many ships.

During this time he wrote the hymn, "Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me." It became a favorite of the sailors, but for years they didn't know who the author was. Edward Hopper, a gentle, humble man had written it anonymously. It wasn't until he was asked to write a hymn for a celebration of the Seaman's Friend Society that the secret was revealed. Instead of writing a new hymn, he read this beautiful one. Of the many hymns he wrote, it is the only one we still sing to this day.

Edward Hopper died in 1888 at the age of seventy. Down through the ages his words have ministered to countless souls.

Blessings,
Linda