Team with its sheep

And every fold shall team with its sheep,
with harvests of gold the fields shall be deep.

—Richard Littledale

Cease of fitness to be thinking;
do not longer try to feel;
it is trusting, and not feeling,
that will give the Spirit’s seal.

—Daniel Whittle

Fill the Basket

Thou first of all confessors,
of all the deacons crown,
of every following athlete,
the glory and renown.

—Anatolius, ca. 800

In the vineyard of our Father
daily work we find to do;
scattered fruit our hands may gather,
though we are but weak and few;
little clusters help to fill the basket, too.

—Thomas MacKellar

Wild Asses

You make springs gush forth in the valleys; they flow between the hills, giving drink to every wild animal; the wild asses quench their thirst.

—Psalm 104:10-11

Pull me back to sin

I know that often when I strive
to keep a spark of love alive
for thee, the powers within leap
up in unsubmissive might
and oft benumb my sense of right
and pull me back to sin.

—Frank St. John

Gently Lay Thy Rod

We may not climb the heavenly steeps
to bring the Lord Christ down;
in vain we search the lowest deeps,
for Him no depths can drown.

—John Whittier

Gently, gently lay thy rod
upon my sinful head, O God.

—Henry Francis Lyte

Till it rolls over me

My sins they are many, their stains are so deep,
and bitter the tears of remorse that I weep;
but useless is weeping; thou great crimson sea,
thy waters can cleanse me, thy waters can cleanse me,
thy waters can cleanse me, come, roll over me!
O ocean of mercy, oft longing I’ve stood
on the brink of thy wonderful, life giving flood!
Once more I have reachèd this soul cleansing sea,
I will not go back, I will not go back,

I will not go back till it rolls over me.

—William Booth

In Error's Name We Grope

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.

—John 10:1

Lead us, O Father, in the paths of truth:
Unhelped by Thee, in error’s name we grope,
while passion stains, and folly dims our youth,
and age comes on, uncheered by faith or hope.

—William Burleigh

Save thy people, and bless thine inheritance: feed them also, and lift them up for ever.

—Psalm 28:9