Classic Poem

PARABLE XXXI.

The Good Shepherd.

In truth, in very truth, I say,
The man that comes another way,
And enters not the door, his will
Is God's good sheep to fleece and kill:
But the true shepherd of the flock
Comes by the door-way; at his knock
To him the porter opes by choice,
And his sheep know the welcome voice:
And his own flock by name he hails,
And leads them out to verdant vales;
And when he puts them forth to feed,
He does his own good sheep precede,
Which follow, as his voice they know;
But after strangers will not go,
But flee away from such in fear,
As for their voice they have no ear.
This parable our Saviour spake,
Nor could the twelve his meaning take;
He therefore said to them again,
His gracious purpose to explain,
'Tis truth, the very truth direct,
I am the door-way in effect
Of my own sheep. Who came of old,
Were thieves and robbers of the fold;
But them the sheep did not revere.
I am the door, who enters here,
He shall be sav'd, and to his mind
Free passage and sweet pasture find
To steal, to kill, and to destroy,
Are a thief's errand, and his joy:
But to give life my mission's seal'd
At large, eternal, unreveal'd.
I am the shepherd good and true,
Who gives his life for sheep like you
The hireling, to the flock unknown,
Whereas the sheep are not his own,
Sees the wolf come in search of prey,
And leaves his charge, and flies away;
The wolf then seizes on the best
Secure, and scatters all the rest
The hireling (ev'n as such) recedes,
Nor cares he for the sheep he feeds:
My sheep, the shepherd true and good,
I know, and I am understood,
Me as the Father knows, ev'n so
I him reciprocally know:
And I, his covenant to keep,
Lay down my life, and save my sheep
And I have other sheep, beside
This fold, for which I must provide;
They, by my voice, shall be controul'd
At length one shepherd and one fold.
Here is my Father's love intense,
Because I willingly go hence,
And die the death to live again
No man I charge, that I am slain:
But, so empower'd my life resign,
(To yield and to resume is mine)
This is the Father's great behest
Giv'n to my soul's supreme request.