" He feedeth among the lilies." – Cant. 2:16. " Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? " Matt. 9:11.

All around Him and beside Him,
Sinners sat at meat –
Sinful men and sinful women –
Bread of heaven they eat.

There, for Him who hath no money,
Wine and milk He pours
From the blessed fields of heaven,
God's exhaustless stores.

So they drank, the weary, thirsty,
That unfailing tide;
And forever and forever
They are satisfied.

He on heavenly food was feeding,
Meat to them unknown,
Blessed will of God who sent Him,
Needing that alone;

Sent to seek the lost and guilty,
Outcasts and despised,
Gems the hand of God would gather
For the crown of Christ.

So He fed amongst His lilies,
Saw them fair and white,
In the garden God had planted
For His own delight.

Only sinful men and women
Men could see and scorn ;
He beheld them crowned with glory
Of the heavenly morn –

Saw them with their palms of triumph,
With their harps of gold ;
Yet the same who sat around Him
In the days of old.

Mrs. Frances Bevan.