1. When He cometh, when He cometh To make up His jewels, All His jewels, precious jewels, His loved and His own. 2. He will gather, He will gather The gems for His kingdom; All the pure ones, all the bright ones, His loved and His own. 3. Little children, little children, Who love their Redeemer, Are the jewels, precious jewels, His loved and His own. Chorus: Like the stars of the morning, His brightness adorning, They shall shine in their beauty, Bright gems for His crown.
Lyrics:
William Orcutt Cushing
Music: George Frederick Root
Tune: JEWELS
William O. Cushing, 1823–1902
William Orcutt Cushing conceived the idea for his “Jewel Song” text from the promise in Malachi 3:17: “And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of Hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels.” Pastor Cushing wrote the text for the children in his own Sunday school in 1856.
Several years later, William Cushing suffered a period of deep despair in his life. After the death of his wife, he developed a paralysis and the loss of his speech at the age of forty-seven. He was forced to retire from the ministry after twenty-seven years as a pastor in the Disciples of Christ churches. When he pleaded, “Lord, give me something to do for Thee,” God answered, giving him the gift of writing appealing hymn texts. He worked with such musicians as Ira Sankey and George Root to produce more than 300 gospel hymns during his remaining years.