Scripture Verse

Leave the little children alone, and don’t try to keep them from coming to Me, because the kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these. Matthew 19:14

Introduction

portrait
John H. Tenney (1840–1918)

Words: Han­nah A. Fos­ter, in The Bea­con Light, ed­it­ed by John Ten­ney & Eli­sha A. Hoff­man (Bos­ton, Mas­sa­chu­setts: Ol­iv­er Dit­son, 1881), number 36.

Music: John H. Ten­ney (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know Fos­ter’s full name, or where to get a good pho­to of her (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

Precious words, these words of Je­sus,
Spoken ten­der­ly;
Hinder not the lit­tle child­ren:
Let them come to Me.

Refrain

Wonderful words! Come un­to Me.
Wonderful love! draw­ing to Thee.
Wonderful grace, full and so free!
Merciful Sav­ior, Thine would we be.

When we call Him, He will an­swer
From His throne above;
Oh! how sweet to talk with Je­sus,
And to share His love.

Refrain

If we ask Him, He will lead us,
And we shall not stray;
Oh! how blest to walk with Je­sus,
Trust Him and ob­ey.

Refrain

He will give us strength to la­bor,
Grace to con­quer sin;
When we knock at Hea­ven’s por­tal,
He will say, Come in.

Refrain