Dear brethren! When the saints for praise or prayer,
Are gathered round the Lord, “the Lord is there”;
The Firstborn, fair, among His chosen race,
Bestowing of His fullness, “grace on grace.”
Can we then, who have tasted of that grace,
Care to be absent when He shows His face?
Say, shall a little rain a lengthy road
Prevent communion with the saints and God?
Lo, Satan’s slaves to scenes of pleasure go,
By day or night, through rain or hail or snow,
And can we careless be of going where
The saints are found for worship or for prayer?
Shall business stay us? friends? or feeling tired?
When our attendance is by Christ desired?
Blush, brethren dear, blush at the very thought,
And let us show that we are better taught.
Suppose an earthly prince should condescend
To bid us to his banquet as a friend,
Would we not seek, by all means in our power,
To be “in court” at the appointed hour?
Granted, lest we should seem to be severe,
There are domestic cases here and there;
Age, illness, service, things quite unforeseen,
To censure which we surely do not mean.
But these will not, unless we greatly err,
Among the true and thoughtful oft occur,
And when they do, e’en then such will endeavor
To come at last “’tis better late than never.”
Dear brethren! ’Tis the Lord must judge each case;
Yet if we really love to see His face
We shall seek grace, as says our simple rhyme,
To gather round Him at the appointed time.
Ano.