(St. Luke’s Gospel, xv. 17-32.)
I.
Long, my Father, have I wandered
From the home I loved of old,—
All Thy tender mercies squandered,
All Thy loving-kindness sold.
II.
I have sinned against Thy goodness,
Mocked Thy sorrow, scorned Thy love;
Treated all Thy care with rudeness,
’Gainst Thy gentle Spirit strove.
III.
Far from Thy free, bounteous table,
I have fed on husks of sin;
Wayward, thankless, and unstable,
Father, wilt Thou take me in?
IV.
Take me, oh! in mercy take me,
To Thy blessed home again,
And let no enticement shake me,—
Satan’s wiles nor wicked men.
V.
I am sinful, doubting, fearing—
Thou canst banish all alarm;
I am weak, and blind, and erring—
Thou canst shield from every harm.
VI.
Look upon me, crushed and broken,
Humble, contrite, at Thy feet.
Dost Thou know me? Hast Thou spoken?
“Hast Thou come Thy child to meet!”
VII.
Lost and found! Once dead, now living!
Once an outcast, now a son!
Once despairing, now believing,—
I my Father’s house have won.