THOU WERT FAR OFF AND IN THE SIGHT OF HEAVEN.

Thou wert far off, and in the sight of heaven

Dead. And thy Father would not this should be;

And now thou livest, it is all forgiven;

Think on it, O my soul, He kissèd thee!

What now are gold and gear? thou canst afford

To cast them from thee at His sacred call,

As Mary, when she met her living Lord,

The burial spice she had prepared let fall.

O! what is death to life? One dead could well

Afford to waste his shroud, if he might wake;

Thou canst afford to waste the world, and sell

Thy footing in it, for the new world's sake.

What is the world? it is a waiting place,

Where men put on their robes for that above.

What is the new world?‘ tis a Father's face

Beholden of His sons — the face of love.