There are who come to me, and write, and send, Whom I would love, giving good things to all, But friend--that name I cannot on them spend; 'Tis from the centre of self-love they call For cherishing--for which they first must know How to be still, and take the seat that's low: When, Lord, shall I be fit--when wilt thou call me friend? 7. Wilt thou not one day, Lord? In all my wrong, Self-love and weakness, laziness and fear, This one thing I can say: I am content To be and have what in thy heart I am meant To be and have. In my best times I long After thy will, and think it glorious-dear; Even in my worst, perforce my will to thine is bent. 8. My God, I look to thee for tenderness Such as I could not seek from any man, Or in a human heart fancy or plan-- A something deepest prayer will not express: Lord, with thy breath blow on my being's fires, Until, even to the soul with self-love wan, I yield the primal love, that no return desires. 9. Only no word of mine must ever foster The self that in a brother's bosom gnaws; I may not fondle failing, nor the boaster Encourage with the breath of my applause. Weakness needs pity, sometimes love's rebuke; Strength only sympathy deserves and draws-- And grows by every faithful loving look. 10. 'Tis but as men draw nigh to thee, my Lord, They can draw nigh each other and not hurt. Who with the gospel of thy peace are girt, The belt from which doth hang the Spirit's sword, Shall breathe on dead bones, and the bones shall live, Sweet poison to the evil self shall give, And, clean themselves, lift men clean from the mire abhorred. 11. My Lord, I have no clothes to come to thee; My shoes are pierced and broken with the road; I am torn and weathered, wounded with the goad, And soiled with tugging at my weary load: The more I need thee! A very prodigal I stagger into thy presence, Lord of me: One look, my Christ, and at thy feet I fall! 12. Why should I still hang back, like one in a dream, Who vainly strives to clothe himself aright, That in great presence he may seemly seem? Why call up feeling?--dress me in the faint, Worn, faded, cast-off nimbus of some saint? Why of old mood bring back a ghostly gleam-- While there He waits, love's heart and loss's blight! 13. Son of the Father, elder brother mine, See thy poor brother's plight; See how he stands Defiled and feeble, hanging down his hands! Make me clean, brother, with thy burning shine; From thy rich treasures, householder divine, Bring forth fair garments, old and new, I pray, And like thy brother dress me, in the old home-bred way. 14.