Religion

Longing Souls Invited to the Gospel-Feast

by Anne Steele 1717–1778

From The Works of Mrs. Anne Steele (Boston, 1808)

Religion

Ye wretched, hungry, starving poor,
Behold a royal feast!
Where mercy spreads her bounteous store,
For ev'ry humble guest.

See, Jesus stands with open arms;
He calls, he bids you come:
Guilt holds you back, and fear alarms;
But see, there yet is room.

Room in the Saviour's bleeding heart:
There love and pity meet;
Nor will he bid the soul depart,
That trembles at his feet.

In him, the Father reconcil'd
Invites your souls to come;
The rebel shall be call'd a child,
And kindly welcom'd home.

O come, and with his children taste
The blessings of his love;
While hope attends the sweet repast,
Of nobler joys above.

There, with united heart and voice,
Before th' eternal throne,
Ten thousand thousand souls rejoice,
In ecstacies unknown.

And yet ten thousand thousand more,
Are welcome still to come:
Ye longing souls, the grace adore;
Approach, there yet is room.

✦ ✦ ✦

Text: Luke xiv. 22.

MLA

Steele, Anne. “Longing Souls Invited to the Gospel-Feast.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/steele_anne/5/.

Chicago

Steele, Anne. “Longing Souls Invited to the Gospel-Feast.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/steele_anne/5/.

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