Love Bade Me Welcome

Hurd, David (b. 1950)

Voicing:
Mixed Choir → SATB

Accompaniment:
Unaccompanied

Occasion:
Proper of Time → The Weeks in Ordinary Time → General Ordinary Time
Communion

Publication Information:
Selah Publishing Co. — 418-610 (1993)

Text Information:
Reference: George Herbert

Lyrics:

Love bade me welcome: yet my soul drew back,
            Guilty of dust and sin.
But quick-eyed Love, observing me grow slack
            From my first entrance in,
Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning
            If I lacked anything.

"A guest," I answered, "worthy to be here":
            Love said, "You shall be he."
"I, the unkind, ungrateful? Ah, my dear,
            I cannot look on thee."
Love took my hand, and smiling did reply,
            "Who made the eyes but I?"

"Truth, Lord; but I have marred them; let my shame
            Go where it doth deserve."
"And know you not," says Love, "who bore the blame?"
            "My dear, then I will serve."
"You must sit down," says Love, "and taste my meat."
            So I did sit and eat.

Submitted by: Anthony DiCello Added: Aug 16, 2022