179 Thy little ones, dear Lord, are we,

1 Thy little ones, dear Lord, are we, And come Thy lowly bed to see; Enlighten every soul and mind, That we the way to Thee may find. 2 With songs we hasten Thee to greet, And kiss the dust before Thy feet, O blessed hour, O sweetest night, That gave Thee birth, our soul's delight. 3 Now welcome! From Thy heavenly home Thou to our vale of tears art come; Man hath no offering for Thee, save The stable, manger, cross, and grave. 4 Jesus, alas! how can it be So few bestow a thought on Thee, Or on the love, so wondrous great, That drew Thee down to our estate? 5 O draw us wholly to Thee, Lord, Do Thou to us Thy grace accord, True faith and love to us impart, That we may hold Thee in our heart. 6 Keep us, howe'er the world may lure, In our baptismal covenant pure; That every yearning thought may be Directed only unto Thee: 7 Until at last we, too, proclaim, With all Thy saints, Thy glorious name; In Paradise our songs renew, And praise Thee as the angels do. 8 We gather round Thee, Jesus dear, So happy in Thy presence here; Grant us, our Savior, every one, To stand in heaven before Thy throne.