Scripture Verse

Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them: for of such is the kingdom of Heaven. Matthew 19:14

Introduction

Words & Mu­sic: George Or­bin, in The Gos­pel Hym­nal, by Ed­win O. Ex­cell (Cin­cin­na­ti, Ohio: Eat­on & Main, 1899), num­ber 96 (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Or­bin (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

Hinder the child­ren, they said to the Mas­ter,
Why should the mo­thers bring them to Thee?
Hinder them not, was the an­swer of Je­sus,
Let all the lit­tle ones come un­to Me.

Refrain

Come un­to Me, come un­to Me,
Suffer all the lit­tle ones to come un­to Me;
Turn them not away, but bring them in to­day,
And suf­fer them to come un­to Me.

Safe in the arms of His ten­der com­pass­ion,
Playful the pratt­lers sat on His knee,
Waiting to get His di­vine be­ne­dic­tion,
Happy to hear Him say, Come un­to Me.

Refrain

Come now to Je­sus, oh, thrice hap­py wel­come,
Welcome to Him who died on the tree;
Tho’ He is reign­ing in man­sions of glo­ry,
Yet does His Spir­it say, Come un­to Me.

Refrain

Then in the day of His se­cond ap­pearing,
When from His pre­sence mount­ains shall flee,
Sweeter than ev­er will be the glad wel­come,
As thou shalt hear Him say, Come un­to Me.

Refrain

illustration
Christ with Children
Carl H. Bloch (1834–1890)