Scripture Verse

Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these. Matthew 19:14

Introduction

portrait
Samuel Stennett
(1727–1795)

Words: Sam­uel Sten­nett, in a Se­lect­ion of Hymns, by John Rip­pon, 1787.

Music: Bless­ed In­fancy, in A Com­pi­la­tion of Ge­nu­ine Church Mu­sic, by Jo­seph Funk, se­cond edi­tion, 1835 (🔊 pdf nwc).

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

Lyrics

Thy life I read, my dear­est Lord,
With trans­port all di­vine;
Thine im­age trace in ev­ery word,
Thy love in ev­ery line,
Thy love in ev­ery line.

Methinks I see a thou­sand charms
Spread o’er Thy love­ly face,
While in­fants in Thy ten­der arms
Receive the smil­ing grace,
Receive the smil­ing grace.

I take these lit­tle lambs, said He,
And lay them in My breast;
Protection they shall find in Me,
In Me be ev­er blest,
In Me be ev­er blest.

Death may the bands of life un­loose,
But can’t dis­solve My love;
Millions of in­fant souls com­pose,
The fa­mi­ly above,
The fa­mi­ly above.