Suffer little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
Luke 18:16
Words: Edwin P. Hood, written for Sunday School Anniversaries at Nibley, Gloucestershire, England, 1852–57.
Music: Balham composer unknown, in Augsburg Songs No. 2 (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Lutheran Publication Society, 1893), number 7 (🔊 pdf nwc).
If you know the composer, or where to get a good photo of him (head & shoulders, at least 200×300 pixels),
God, who hath made the daisies,
And every lovely thing,
He will accept our praises,
And hearken while we sing;
Will say, though we are simple,
Though ignorant we be,
Suffer the little children,
And let them come to Me.
Though we are young and simple,
In praise we may be bold;
The children in the temple
He heard in days of old;
And if our hearts are humble,
He says to you and me,
Suffer the little children,
And let them come to Me.
He sees the bird that wingeth
Its way o’er earth and sky;
He hears the lark that singeth
Up in the heav’n so high;
He sees the heart’s low breathings,
And says (well pleased to see)
Suffer the little children,
And let them come to Me.