533.
[Hear this, ye men of moral zeal]
The publicans and the harlots go into the, &c.
—xxi. 31.
Hear this, ye men of moral zeal,
Ye women chaste of virtue proud,
Who scorn as abject slaves of hell
The vicious, mean, abandon'd crowd!
Harlots, and publicans accursed
The kingdom seize, and enter first.
Ye rich in works of righteousness,
Who toil so hard to purchase heaven,
Ye scruple to be saved by grace,
Like vilest profligates forgiven:
But freely they the blessing gain
Which Pharisees would buy in vain.
Drunkards, and murderers, and thieves,
In Jesus for salvation trust:
Absolved the moment he believes,
The monster of unbridled lust
Exults the sinner's Friend to find,
And leaves your rigid pride behind.
O that ye might like them repent,
Cast all your loathsome rags away,
Humbly accept whom God hath sent,
On Tophet's brink for mercy pray,
The last, the worst to Jesus bow,
And take the heavenly kingdom now.
