My Shepherd, my Husband, my Friend,
My Saviour from sin and from thrall,
My hope from beginning to end,
My portion, my Lord, and my all.
90.
The foolish Virgins.[1]—Matt, xxv, 1.
1 WHEN descending from the sky
The Bridegroom shall appear,
And the solemn midnight cry
Shall call professors near,
How the sound our hearts will damp
How will shame o erspread each face
If we only have a lamp
Without the oil of grace !
2 Foolish virgins then will wake
And seek for a supply ;
But in vain the pains they take
To borrow or to buy :
Then with those they now despise
Earnestly they 11 wish to share ;
But the best among the wise
Will have no oil to spare.
3 Wise are they, and truly blest,
Who then shall ready be !
But despair will seize the rest,
And dreadful misery :
Once, they ll cry, we scorn d to doubt,
Though in lies our trust we put ;
Now our lamp of hope is" out
The door of mercy shut.
4 If they then presume to plead,
" Lord, open to us now ;
We on earth have heard and pray d,
And with thy saints did bow:"
- ↑ Book iii, Hymn 72.
