Who shall sing if not the children

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Who shall sing if not the children

Author: George W. Bethune
Tune: MIDDLETON (Arnold)
Published in 78 hymnals

Representative Text

1 Who shall sing, If not the children?
Did not Jesus die for them?
May they not, with other jewels
Sparkle in his diadem?
Why to them were voices given,
Bird-like voices, sweet and clear?
Why, unless the song of heaven
They begin to practise here.

2 There's a choir of infant songsters,
White-robed, round the Saviour's throne;
Angels cease, and, waiting, listen:
Oh, 'tis sweeter than their own!
Faith can hear the rapt'rous choral,
When her ear is upward turn'd:
Is not this the same, perfected,
Which upon the earth they learn'd?

3 Jesus, when on earth sojourning,
Loved them with a wondrous love;
And will he, to heaven returning,
Faithless to his blessing prove?
Oh, they cannot sing too early:
Fathers, stand not in their way!
Birds do sing while day is breaking:
Tell me, then, why should not they?

Source: The Little Seraph: in seven character notes, for churches and Sunday-schools #106a

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Author: George W. Bethune

Bethune, George Washington, D.D. A very eminent divine of the Reformed Dutch body, born in New York, 1805, graduated at Dickinson Coll., Carlisle, Phila., 1822, and studied theology at Princeton. In 1827 he was appointed Pastor of the Reformed Dutch Church, Rinebeck, New York. In 1830 passed to Utica, in 1834 to Philadelphia, and in 1850 to the Brooklyn Heights, New York. In 1861 he visited Florence, Italy, for his health, and died in that city, almost suddenly after preaching, April 27, 1862. His Life and Letters were edited by A. R. Van Nest, 1867. He was offered the Chancellorship of New York University, and the Provostship of the University of Pennsylvania, both of which he declined. His works include The Fruits of the Spirit, 1839; Ser… Go to person page >

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