Luke 15:4–10: Jesus the good Shepherd, good

Jesus the good Shepherd, good
With Divine humanity,
Miss'd the purchase of His blood,
Left the ninety-nine for me:
Hurrying down the' infernal way
Long His fugitive He sought,
Found at last His fainting stray,
Found, and to His bosom caught.

Kindly for His own He cares.
Full of sympathetic love
All my griefs and burdens bears.
Hides my life secure above:
Sure support His mercy gives.
Bears beyond the adverse power,
Never to myself He leaves,
Never lets me Avander more.

Jesus now gone up on high
Calls his family above,
Bids his friends and neighbours cry
"Glory to the God of love!"
Jesus' bliss the church inspires
Who before His face appear.
Angels strike their sounding lyres
For a soul repenting here.

Angels, saints, and men are glad
At a prodigal's return,
Envious Pharisees are sad,
With the powers of darkness mourn:
Scribes in every age the same
Thus their true succession prove,
By their murmurings proclaim
"God we neither fear nor love."