Classic Poem

PARABLE L.

Leaving all for Christ

It happen'd, as they went along,
A certain man from out the throng
Cry'd, ‘Lord, I will thy steps attend,
‘Where'er your painful course you bend.’
And Jesus said, ‘Without an home,
‘Forlorn the Son of Man must roam,
‘Though foxes are of holes possess'd,
‘And ev'ry bird has got his nest.’
And to another Jesus said,
‘Come, follow me.’ But he delay'd,
And cry'd, ‘Lord, suffer me to go
‘And first my father's corse bestow’
But Jesus, ‘Leave the conduct free
‘Of dead men for the dead to me:
‘But thou the living God maintain,
‘And preach Christ Jesus, and his reign’
Another made an offer too,
‘Thy steps, O Lord, will I pursue;
‘But first permit me, where I dwell,
‘To bid my family farewel’
But Jesus to the man rejoin'd,
‘Not they that plow, and look behind
‘Unto the world and its deceit,
‘Are subjects for Christ's kingdom meet’
?Behold, a cruel hardship here,
Most worthy of a poor man's tear!
The God Supreme of human race,
The Lord of pity, love, and grace,
Had neither dwelling-place, nor bed
To house a friend, or lay his head.
Sure, those that saw were dead indeed,
Who gave him neither help nor heed.
Observe too, when a man sets out
In Christ, he must have done with doubt,
From carnal cares divorce his soul,
And press directly for the goal.