An Invitation To Sinners, Poem by Rees Prichard

Come gentle, come simple, come all to the feast,
The feast of the Son of your King!
Let nothing impede each from being a guest -
'Tis God that invites you all in.

There is in this supper most delicate cheer!
There's food, that will comfort your souls!
There's honey and manna! the Bread of life's there,
Gifts sacred, and mystical bowls!

The Lamb that now lives, and the Lamb that was slain,
You there ready dress'd shall all have!
To gladden your hearts He arose up again,
And bilk'd for your safety the grave.

The blood of the Lamb, you shall quaff at this feast,
And eat of this flesh, that was slain -
In clothes of his wool, you above shall be drest :
His merits shall raise you again.

You there shall the peace of the Deity gain,
With pardon, for all that's amiss -
You, there, shall the Spirit of comfort obtain -
You Christ shall have, there, with each bliss!

Come merrily therefore, come jovial and gay,
To this sumptuous treat, at his call -
Come all to the wedding, and make no delay -
Christ offers himself unto all.

Let nothing detain you, but come for your life,
Not the world, nor the flesh, nor the fiend,
Nor oxen, nor farm, nor a new marry'd wife:
You to nothing besides shou'd attend.

But if, to this marriage, to come you are loath,
If you fail to be, there, as a guest,
The great King declares with a terrible oath,
You never shall taste of his feast.

The garment of Grace is, in hue, red and white -
Red, within - white, without - is the coat:
The white is a sign of a life good and right,
The red, the true faith does denote.

Come then, in this dress, to the glorious repast,
Without it, let none there, be found,
Lest they to the bottomless pit shou'd be cast,
And there lie for ever fast bound.

In a garb, whereby virtue is rightly express'd,
In decent and proper array,
Let ev'ry one, there, at his peril be dress'd,
That Jesus's heart may be gay.

If you to this sacred repast shall repair,
He'll grant you the favour, that He
(So you're clad with repentance, with faith, and with pray'r)
Your spouse and protector will be.