"He himself shall be saved, yet so as by fire (1 Cor. iii. 15)."
Help, Lord, the souls which Thou hast made,
The souls to Thee so dear,
In prison, for debt unpaid
Of sins committed here.
Those holy souls, they suffer on,
Resigned in heart and will,
Until Thy high behest is done,
And justice has its fill.
For daily falls, for pardoned crime,
They joy to undergo
The shadow of Thy cross sublime,
The remnant of Thy woe.
Oh, by their patience of delay,
Their hope amid their pain,
Their sacred zeal to burn away
Disfigurement and stain;
Oh, by their fire of love, not less
In keeness than the flame,
Oh, by their very helplessness,
Oh, by Thy own great Name.
The souls to Thee so dear,
In prison, for debt unpaid
Of sins committed here.
Those holy souls, they suffer on,
Resigned in heart and will,
Until Thy high behest is done,
And justice has its fill.
For daily falls, for pardoned crime,
They joy to undergo
The shadow of Thy cross sublime,
The remnant of Thy woe.
Oh, by their patience of delay,
Their hope amid their pain,
Their sacred zeal to burn away
Disfigurement and stain;
Oh, by their fire of love, not less
In keeness than the flame,
Oh, by their very helplessness,
Oh, by Thy own great Name.
