Our Father

SAMUEL JOHNSTONE MACDONALD

Yussuf Ben Orem went to pray,
And one he met upon the way
Said, Whither goest thou, my friend,
And may I on thy way attend?
I go to pray, and if thou deign
To honor me, mine all the gain;
Together, friend, then let us fare,
Together let us make our prayer.

To whom, then, prayest thou? said he.
To whom but God alone? Can we
Find other god to whom to pray,
Who doth create and who doth slay?
And thinkest then that He who lives,
And life unto His children gives,
Can slay the children of His love?
Is this thy God who reigns above?

Couldst thou, a father, have the will
The offspring of thy love to kill?
And thinkest thou thy God hath less
Than thine own human tenderness?
If God create us, are not we
His offspring then, and must not He
A father's sweet affection know
For all His children here below?

Then, brother, to our Father pray,
Who is our guardian, guide, and stay,
Who loves and ever for us cares,
And ere we ask doth heed our prayers.
Yussuf Ben Orem at his feet
Knelt low and cried: O Master sweet,
How hath thy words my heart enticed:
I know thee now, the living Christ!

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