Long ago, in old Ju­dea,
By the shores of Ga­li­lee,
Jesus spake un­to the fish­ers:
Leave your nets, and fol­low Me.
Little child­ren, hear the sto­ry,
Pealing through the ag­es dim;
Who of you will leave your plea­sures,
Take your cross, and fol­low Him?

Now no more in old Ju­dea,
Jesus walks be­side the sea;
But He call­eth, ever call­eth,
Who will come and fol­low Me?
Come to Je­sus—time may tar­nish
Many dreams of beau­ty fair;
What He of­fers fad­eth ne­ver—
Life eter­nal ov­er there.

Over there, be­yond life’s bil­lows,
Eyes of faith can plain­ly see
The bright man­sions where He pro­mised
All His fol­low­ers would be.
Children, list­en to the sto­ry,
Pealing through the ag­es dim;
Jesus loves you! died to save you!
Give up all, and fol­low Him.