Poems (Shipton)/The Dying Thief

by Anna Shipton

THE DYING THIEF.

"Behold the Man!"—John xix. 5.

The day is past for me,
 And nothing I have done;
I might have served a lifetime here,
 But now the light is gone,
   And night is drawing near.

I might have led some heart
 The path I have despised,
I might have told the love of One
 "Whom I so little prized;
   But now the time is gone.

Past is the day of grace:
 I spurned the priceless blood,
And long have trampled recklessly
 Upon the gift of God;
   And now I come to die.

Yet I have known the price
 My careless soul has cost;
But this false world has wooed me well,
 And I have loved and lost;
   For I believe in hell.

Here at the grave's dark mouth,
 Of every help bereft,
I long in vain for one lost day;
 And but one hour is left,
   And life ebbs fast away.

I might have lived for Christ,
 Who gave His life for me;
I might have been His witness here,
 But now this cannot be;
   I shrink, I faint with fear.

Lord, is there no hope for me?
 When thou wast crucified,
Thou heardst the malefactor's cry
 Ascending by Thy side.
   Wilt Thou my prayer deny?

Lord, I am that vile thief
 Who robbed Thee every day
Of glory, honor, praise, and work,
 And nought have I to pay;
   And now the night grows dark.

All! say'st Thou 'twas for such
 The Christ came down to die:
Then His salvation I may see;
 He hears the sinner's cry:
   There's hope, there's hope for me!

The vail is rent indeed,
 The spotless Lamb hath bled;
And I that sacred Form may scan,
 For all is finished.
   And I behold the Man!

Five wounds! and crowned with thorns,
 Scarred with the cruel thong,
Mocked by the multitude's rude breath,
 The ribald drunkard's song,
   To save my soul from death.

Saved! saved! I see it all!
 My sins alone I bring;
The Righteous takes the sinner's place,
 God's Sinless Offering.
   All, all is mine—free grace!