THE LOST SHEEP by Brightside

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 26, 1871

THE LOST SHEEP.

By Brightside

“There were ninety and nine that safely lay     In the shelter of the fold; And one was out on the hills away,     Far off from the gates of gold; Away on the mountains wild and bare—     Away from the tender Shepherd’s care.

“‘Lord, thou hast here the ninety and nine;     Are they not enough for thee?’” But the Shepherd made answer, “This of mine     Has wandered away from me; And although the roads be rough and steep,     I go to the desert to find my sheep.”

And none of the ransomed ever knew     How deep were the waters crossed; Nor how dark the night that the Lord passed through,     Ere He found his sheep that was lost. Out in the desert he heard its cry,     Sick, and helpless, and ready to die.

“Lord, whence are those blood-drops all the way,     That mark out the mountain’s track?” “They were shed for one who had gone astray     Ere the Shepherd could bring him back.” “Lord, whence are thy hands so rent and torn?” “They were pierced to-night by many a thorn.”

And all through the mountains, thunder-riven,     And up from the rocky steep, There rose a cry to the gates of Heaven,     “Rejoice, I have found my sheep!” And the angels echoed around the throne,     “Rejoice, for the Lord brings back his own!” —Brightside.