The Little Missionary

Abana was a river

Author: Hezekiah Butterworth
Tune: [Abana was a river]
Published in 3 hymnals

Printable scores: PDF, Noteworthy Composer
Audio files: MIDI

Representative Text

1 Abana was a river
That near Damascus run;
Its bank of palms and roses
Lay beauteous in the sun.
Now by the bright Abana
Did Naaman reside,
And oft the dimpling waters
Beheld with joy and pride.

2 But Naaman, the victor,
Became a leper there;
Was pitied by a captive,
A child of faith and prayer;
She told him of a prophet
That could a leper heal,
And to his mind in sorrow
The living God reveal.

3 This little missionary
The conqueror believed,
And journeyed to the prophet,
Who gladly him received.
He washed in Jordan’s river,
And was to health restored,
Then came he to Abana,
Rejoicing in the Lord.

4 All may be missionaries,
About their daily care,
And speak of faith in Jesus,
And help that comes from prayer.
Some soul oppressed by sorrow
May listen to the word,
Like Naaman the leper,
And turn and seek the Lord

Source: The Cyber Hymnal #10157

Author: Hezekiah Butterworth

Butterworth, Hezekiah, was born at Warren, Rhode Island, Dec. 22, 1839. He wrote The Story of the Hymns, American Tract Society, 1875. He is the author of "0 Church of Christ, our blest abode" (The Church) in Root's cantata, Under the Palms, and of "Jesus, I Thee believe" (Jesus All in All) in the cantata Faith Triumphant. --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, Appendix, Part II (1907)… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Abana was a river
Title: The Little Missionary
Author: Hezekiah Butterworth
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Timeline

Media

The Cyber Hymnal #10157
  • PDF (PDF)
  • Noteworthy Composer Score (NWC)

Instances

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The Cyber Hymnal #10157

Include 2 pre-1979 instances
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