Think Gently of the Erring

Julia A. Carney

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 weakness 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 selfsame heritage,

Child of the selfsame God,

He has but stumbled in the path

Thou hast in weakness trod.

Speak gently to the erring:

For is it not enough

That innocence and peace have gone,

Without thy censure rough?

It sure must be a weary lot,

That sin-stained heart to bear,

And those who share a happier fate

Their chidings well may spare.

Speak gently to the erring:

Thou yet may'st 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, then,

As God has dealt with thee.

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This collection assembled by Jone Johnson Lewis.
Collection © 1999-2002 Jone Johnson Lewis.

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