「おもえば昔エスきみ」は、讃美歌467番の曲で、おそらく英国の民謡です。原題は「I Think When I Read That Sweet Story
of old (Luke)」です。
エスはイエス様(キリスト)のことです。
メロディが「春の日の花と輝く」と同一であるという情報がありますが、聞いてみる限り別の曲のように思います。
I think when I read that sweet
story of old,
when Jesus was here among men,
how he called little children as lambs to his fold,
I should like to have been with them then.
I wish that his hands had been
placed on my head,
that his arm had been thrown around me,
and that I might have seen his kind look when he said,
"Let the little ones come unto me."
Yet still to his footstool in
prayer I may go,
and ask for a share in his love;
and if I now earnestly seek him below,
I shall see him and hear him above;
In that beautiful place he has
gone to prepare
for all who are washed and forgiv'n;
and many dear children are gathering there,
for of such is the kingdom of heav'n.
