To a Minister on his Return after a long Absence.
Dear Shepherd you've been wand'ring
So long and far away
Your sheep become disconsolate,
Therefore have gone astray.
Not so, the Mighty Shepherd,
He ne'er forsakes His sheep,
He leads them forth in pasture,
So rich, so green, so sweet;
He leads them to the fountains,
Along the crystal stream—
They feed beside the mountains,
Who put their trust in Him.
Transcriber's Note: Archaic spellings and punctuation have been retained.