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I heard a sermon that was recorded in the 1980s. The speaker was Dr. Paul E. Toms, who at the time was senior pastor at Park Street Church in Boston, Massachusetts. In his sermon, Dr. Toms referenced a hymn, but he didn't mention the title. My mother and I would really like to find this hymn. We would be very grateful for any clues or ideas that you might have! Here is what I know:

The hymn is about a man who lived and died. At the gates of Heaven, the gatekeeper said, "On whose authority should I let you in? The man replied:

"I come in the name of Jesus.
For me He bled and died."
And the pearly gates swung open
and welcomed him inside.

This was all that Dr. Toms mentioned about the hymn itself; unfortunately, he did not mention the title. Dr. Toms did mention that a certain visitor to Park Street Church, "Bill Hoyt" (or possibly "Hoight" or similar; since I only have the sermon on audio, I don't know the spelling) sang this hymn at the church. (But since I'm not sure if "Bill Hoyt" is a famous person or not, I'm not sure if this is a helpful bit of information.)

Unfortunately, this is all that I know. We will be really grateful for any clues that you might have! Thank you!

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    @Narnian Hi and thank you! Yeah, this is basically a search question, but so far I haven't been able to find the hymn on Google.
    – Andrew
    Aug 8, 2013 at 14:24
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    Ah, but a simple google search does not reveal the answer
    – Affable Geek
    Aug 8, 2013 at 14:24
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    I suggest you send an email to this person who knew Toms and pose the question: gordonconwell.edu/academics/… They were both faculty at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Perhaps this person heard the sermon.
    – Steve
    Aug 11, 2013 at 0:58
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    The refrain for "He the Pearly Gates Will Open" is close to your quoted part. Probably not what you are looking for, though. "He the pearly gates will open, So that I may enter in; For He purchased my redemption And forgave me all my sin."
    – user3961
    Aug 13, 2013 at 19:45
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    This wouldn't be the first time that a preacher says some rhyme, but calls it a hymn. Can you link to the sermon or give us the exact date and location to look it up?
    – user3961
    Aug 14, 2013 at 19:58

4 Answers 4

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I think your song might be This One's With Me by NewSong. I stumbled across the service's lyrics while searching for another set of lyrics and found a combination of terms from your quote that located This One's With Me.

I was dreaming about Heaven
Dreamed I was standing at the Pearly Gates
We're all there and I was so scared
In the presence of One so great

I felt so worried and worthy
I felt like running away
I bowed my head and I turn to go
When I heard someone say

"Father, this one's with me
Part of the family
One of the reasons I died on Calvary
Father, welcome him in
I paid the price for him
Father, oh Father, this one's with me"

I was dreaming about Heaven
When I looked up the gates were opened wide
And in the distance, I saw Jesus
Our eyes met and I began to cry

Angels robed in their beauty
Were there to show me the way
And all of Heaven singing
When I heard His voice say

"Father, this one's with me
Part of the family
One of the reasons I died on Calvary
Father, welcome him in
I paid the price for him
Father, oh Father"

Finally, we were there face to face
And He placed on me Heaven's crown
I fell down on my knees, laid my crown at His feet
Then He said to me

"Father, this one's with me
Part of the family
One of the reasons I died on Calvary
Father, welcome him in
I paid the price for him
Father, oh Father, this one's with me"

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Some would argue that a text about a man who lived and died is a "spiritual song", and not a hymn, as one commonly accepted definition of a hymn is "A song in Praise of God". Having written that, I would not be at all surprised to find that the stanza did, in fact come from a text included in a hymnal. The problem is, many hymnals index the texts they include by the first line, and some omit the title altogether, even if the original poet included one. And to make the task even more difficult, nearly every hymnal and spiritual song book I know of indexes the first line of only the first stanza, so knowing the first line of the refrain or of stanza other than the first is usually not much help. Further, there have been many hymnals, and collections of books of spiritual songs which have not yet been catalogued.

First, I suggest you contact the church music department of Park Street Church, and see if the music director recognizes the bit you quote. It may be included in a hymnal used by the church with which he is familiar.

If that doesn't help, I suggest you contact The Hymn Society of the US and Canada and see if they can refer you to someone who might be able to better help you.

I would also contact the music departments at the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, TX, and see if someone there, or in the respective libraries of those institutions might know of the text, or be able to refer you to someone who might.

You might also contact the Billy Graham Evangelistic Organization and see if there is someone there who might be able to help you.

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Yes, this hymn was sung by Bill Hoyt. I had the old LP. I recorded the alblum on C.D. and have this hymn.

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    Hi jerry. Thanks for contributing. But this answer doesn't help us if you don't give the name of the hymn.
    – DJClayworth
    Aug 14, 2019 at 14:17
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    Thanks for your input. If you know the name of the album, or the name of some of the songs on it, it might be possible to search for full album details. I couldn't identify a Christian singer named Bill Hoyt, either. If you know more about him that might also help.
    – Bit Chaser
    Aug 14, 2019 at 20:05
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I believe you are referencing the lyrics for "Jesus loves me" by William Batchelder Bradbury (1816–1868)

Jesus loves me! This I know,
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong;
They are weak, but He is strong.

Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so.

Jesus loves me! This I know,
As He loved so long ago,
Taking children on His knee,
Saying, “Let them come to Me.”

Yes, Jesus loves me!...

Jesus loves me still today,
Walking with me on my way,
Wanting as a friend to give
Light and love to all who live.

Yes, Jesus loves me!...

Jesus loves me! He who died
Heaven’s gate to open wide;
He will wash away my sin,
Let His little child come in.

Yes, Jesus loves me!...

Jesus loves me! He will stay
Close beside me all the way;
Thou hast bled and died for me,
I will henceforth live for Thee.

Yes, Jesus loves me!...

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    Welcome to C.SE. Although I've edited this, I don't believe it's the right answer. There is no mention of "pearly gates" and it's in the wrong meter.
    – Andrew Leach
    Nov 10, 2013 at 9:56

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