Scripture Verse

Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Psalm 34:11

Introduction

Words: Ano­ny­mous, in Sun­day-School Hymns (Phi­la­del­phia, Penn­syl­van­ia: Am­eri­can Sun­day-School Un­ion, 1856), num­ber 323, un­der the ca­te­gory of Teach­ers’ Meet­ings (as re­flect­ed in the lyr­ics).

Music: Stutt­gart Chris­tian F. Witt, Psal­mo­dia Sac­ra (Go­tha, Ger­ma­ny: 1715). Adapt­ed by Hen­ry J. Gaunt­lett (1805–1876) (🔊 pdf nwc).

portrait
Henry Gauntlett
(1805–1876)
National Portrait Gallery

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Lyrics

Savior king! in hal­lowed un­ion,
At Thy sac­red feet, we bow:
Heart with heart, in blest com­mun­ion,
Join to crave Thy fa­vor now.

Heavenly fount! Thy streams of bless­ing
Oft have cheered us on our way:
By Thy pow­er and grace un­ceas­ing,
We con­tin­ue to this day.

Raise, we then, in glad emo­tion,
Thankful lays; and, while we sing,
Vow a pure, a full de­vo­tion
To Thy work, O Sav­ior King.

When we tell the won­drous story
Of Thy rich, ex­haust­less love,
Send Thy Spir­it, Lord of glo­ry,
On the youth­ful heart to move.

Oh, that He, the ev­er-liv­ing,
May des­cend as fruit­ful rain;
Till the wil­der­ness, re­viv­ing,
Blossom as the rose again.

Then, may they, whom we have guid­ed
Life’s tem­pes­tu­ous ocean o’er,
In the home Thou hast pro­vid­ed,
Meet us, to de­part no more.

There, be­side the crys­tal ri­ver,
Flowing from the eter­nal throne,
Shall arise to Thee, for­ev­er,
Praise more sweet than earth has known.