218    C.M.     J. Hart
“He frankly forgave them both.” Luke 7. 41, 42

1 Mercy is welcome news indeed
  To those that guilty stand;
  Wretches that feel what help they need
  Will bless the helping hand.

2 Who rightly would his alms dispose
  Must give them to the poor.
  None but the wounded patient knows
  The comfort of his cure.

3 We all have sinned against our God;
  Exception none can boast;
  But he that feels the heaviest load
  Will prize forgiveness most.

4 No reckoning can we rightly keep,
  For who the sum can know?
  Some souls are fifty pieces deep,
  And some five hundred owe.

5 But let our debts be what they may,
  However great or small,
  As soon as we have nought to pay,
  Our Lord forgives us all.

6 ’Tis perfect poverty alone
  That sets the soul at large;
  While we can call one mite our own,
  We have no full discharge.