IF Thou, Lord God, willest to judge This, Thy very piteous clay, Which to save Christ did not grudge His last dying, I shall say: @3"Lord, I interpose Christ's death 'Twixt these children and Thy wrath."@1 Then if Thou should'st say: Their shame Is as scarlet in Mine eyes— I shall ask: @3"Who took their blame? Look, Lord, on this Sacrifice! Is Thy Son's blood not more bright Which hath washed their scarlet white?"@1 Then, if Thou Thy wrath should'st keep And if Thy gaze should'st still avert From Thy Son's most piteous sheep, I shall ask: @3"Who bare the hurt? I present Christ's death and pain 'Twixt Thine anger and these men."@1 Lord, they die by millions And they look to Thee—take thought!— This dear flock that is Thy Son's, By the richest ransom bought. See, Thy dead Son lies between Thee, the High Judge, and their sin. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...VICKSBURG by PAUL HAMILTON HAYNE THE WHITE ISLAND, OR PLACE OF THE BLEST by ROBERT HERRICK THE ARROW AND THE SONG by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW THIS COMPOST: 1. by WALT WHITMAN THE LAMP OF HERO by LOUISE VICTORINE ACKERMANN EXTEMPORE ON BEING SHOWN SHOE BUCKLES WORN BY DAVID GARRICK by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD |