In Paradise Reposing

In para­dise re­pos­ing

By life’s eter­nal well

The ten­der lambs of Je­sus

In green­est pas­tures dwell.

There palms and ti­ny crown­lets

Aglow with bright­est gem

Bedeck the ba­by mar­tyrs

Who died in Beth­le­hem.

With them the rose-wreathed ar­my

Of child­ren un­de­filed

Who passed through mor­tal tor­ments

For love of Christ the child;

With them in peace un­end­ing

With them in joy­ous mirth

Are all the stain­less in­fants

Which since have gone from earth.

The an­gels

once their guard­ians

Their fel­lows now in grace

With them

in love ad­or­ing

See God the Fa­ther’s face.

The lul­la­by to hush them

In that eter­nal rest

Is sweet an­gel­ic sing­ing

Their nurs­es mo­thers blest.

O Je­su

lov­ing Shep­herd

Who ten­der­ly dost bear

Thy lambs in Thine own bo­som

Bring us to join them there.