| Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). An American Anthology, 1787–1900. 1900. |
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| 500. The Master’s Invitation |
| | | By Anson Davies Fitz Randolph |
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| DEAR Lord, thy table is outspread; | |
| What other could such feast afford? | |
| And thou art waiting at the head, | |
| But I am all unworthy, Lord; | |
| Yet do I hear thee say,— | 5 |
| (Was ever love so free?) | |
| Come hither, son, to-day | |
| And sit and sup with me. | |
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| O master! I am full of doubt, | |
| My heart with sin and fear defiled; | 10 |
| Come thou, and cast the tempter out, | |
| And make me as a little child; | |
| Methinks I hear thee say,— | |
| Come thou, at once, and see | |
| What love can take away, | 15 |
| And what confer on thee. | |
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| My Lord! to thee I fain would go, | |
| Yet tarry now I know not why; | |
| Speak, if to tell what well I know, | |
| That none are half so vile as I. | 20 |
| What do I hear thee say?— | |
| Look, trembling one, and see | |
| These tokens, which to-day | |
| Tell what I did for thee. | |
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| Nay, Lord! I could not here forget | 25 |
| What thou didst for my ransom give; | |
| The garden prayer, the bloody sweat, | |
| All this and more, that I might live. | |
| I hear thee sadly say,— | |
| If this remembered be, | 30 |
| Why linger thus to-day? | |
| Why doubt and question me? | |
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| Oh, love to angels all unknown! | |
| I turn from sin and self aside; | |
| Thou hast the idol self o’erthrown, | 35 |
| I only see the Crucified; | |
| I only hear thee say,— | |
| A feast is spread for thee | |
| On this and every day, | |
| If thou but follow me! | 40 |
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