Charles Franc Richardson

1851-1913 / the United States

Love

If suddenly upon the street
My gracious Saviour I should meet,
And he should say, 'As I love thee,
What love hast thou to offer me?'
Then what could this poor heart of mine
Dare offer to that heart divine?

His eye would pierce my outward show,
His thought my inmost thought would know;
And if I said, 'I love thee, Lord,'
He would not heed my spoken word,
Because my daily life would tell
If verily I loved him well.

If on the day or in the place
Wherein he met me face to face,
My life could show some kindness done,
Some purpose formed, some work begun
For his dear sake, then it were meet
Love's gift to lay at Jesus' feet.
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