W. Garrett Horder, comp. The Poets’ Bible: New Testament. 1895.

A Little Child in the midst

Arthur Middlemore Morgan

‘Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.’—MATT. XVIII. 3.

FAIR is the grace to be a little child.

Our God has sanctified all ages; He,

Not for twelve years but those long thirty-three,

Dwelt in our world, the Ever-undefiled;

Loving, obedient, gentle, stainless, mild,

Exemplar He alike to sire and boy,

Yet, ere by death the world He reconciled,

He told us childhood was the gate of joy.

They brought young children to His love-fired bosom,

Sin, the divider, bade them go away,

But love, the Child-God, blessed each baby-blossom,

“Now suffer ye,” He said, “My own to stay;

When heav’n to man shall ope its portals fair,

Only My little ones shall enter there.”