p. 230 | The Little Family

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Jun 29, 1876

The Little Family.

Published by request.

THERE was a little family Who lived in Bethany: Two sisters and a brother Comprised this family. In singing and in praying, Like angels in the sky, At morning and at evening They raised their voices high.

They lived in peace and pleasure For many lonely years, And laid away their treasure Beyond this vale of tears. So poor and without money, Their kindness made amends; Their house was ever open To Jesus and his friends.

But while they lived so happy, So poor, so kind and good, Their brother was afflicted, And rudely thrown abed. Poor Martha and her sister Did weep and mourn and sigh; But still he grew no better, But lingered on and died.

The Jews went to the sisters, Put Lazarus in the tomb, And tried their hearts to comfort, And drive away their gloom. When Jesus of their sorrow, Heard in a distant land, Straight thither he did travel, To join this lonely band.

When Martha saw him coming, She met him in the way, And told him how her brother Had died and passed away. He cheered her and he blessed her. He told her not to weep, For in him was the power To raise him from his sleep.

Then Martha told her sister, And Mary met him too, And at his feet stood weeping, And rehearsed the tale of woe. When Jesus saw them weeping He fell a weeping too, And wept until they showed him Where Lazarus was entombed.

He rolled away the cover And looked upon the grave, Then prayed to his dear Father Their loving friend to save. Then Lazarus in full power Came from that gloomy mound, And in full life and vigor He walked upon the ground.

Oh, if we but love Jesus, And do his holy will, Like Martha and like Mary, Do ever trust him still, From death he will restore us, And take us to the skies, And bid us live forever Where pleasure never dies.