The Erring

The Erring

Think gently of the erring—

Ye know not of the power

With which the dark temptation came

In some unguarded hour.

Ye may not know how earnestly

They struggled, or how well,

Until the hour of weaknes came,

And sadly thus they fell.

Think gently of the erring—

Oh! do not thou forget,

However darkly stained by sin,

He is thy brother yet.

Heir of the self same heritage,

Child of the self same God,

He hath but stumbled in the path

Thou hast in weakness trod.

Speak kindly to the erring,

For is it not enough

That innocence and peac are gone,

Without the censure rough?

It sure must be a weary lot

That sin-crushed heart to bear,

And they who share a happier fate

Their chidings well may spare.

Speak kindly to the erring—

Thou yet mayst lead them back,

With holy words and tones of love,

From misery's thorny track.

Forget not thou hast often sinned,

And sinful yet must be;

Deal gently with the erring one,

As God has dealt with thee!

Julia A. Fletcher

1:29, p. 1

2.4.1860