3.
“Thou hast led captivity captive.”
Thou art thus captive led our hearts to move,
And draw us unto Thee, that we our hands
May yield, and on our necks put Thy love-bands;
For Thy commandments thus as cords may prove
To lead us to that city's gates above,—
That city which is paved with Thy commands,
The gold and agate of celestial lands.
For heaviest chains are render'd light by love;
And therefore art Thou thus all rudely bound,
That we may in our bonds remember Thee;
And Thee remembering, ever may be found
Thy willing captives rather than be free
With the bad world—the fuller to abound
In Thy blest gift of heavenly liberty.
