590    148th     W. Gadsby
The Prodigal. Luke 15. 11-24

1 Now for a song of praise,
  To our Redeemer God;
  Whose glorious works and ways
  Proclaim his love abroad;
  Ye prodigals, lift up your voice,
  And let us all in him rejoice.

2 A sinner, saved by grace,
  And God calls him his son,
  From Jesus turned his face,
  And from his Father ran;
  Spent all he had with harlots base,
  And brought himself into disgrace.

3 And now, in his distress,
  A servant he becomes;
  Some legalising priest,
  Has hired him, it seems;
  Then sends him forth to feed his swine,
  And husks he now must eat, or pine.

4 So off the rebel sets,
  And to the herd he goes;
  Then tries to eat his husks,
  But now he feels his woes;
  With hunger pinched, he cried and said,
  “My Father’s house abounds with bread.

5 “Alas! what can I do?
  I starving am for want;
  I’ll to my Father go,
  And tell him my complaint;
  I’ll tell him, too, how base I am,
  Not worthy to be called his son,”

6 He said, and off he goes
  Towards his Father’s house,
  With neither shoes nor hose,
  Nor any other dress,
  Except his base and filthy rags,
  Of sin and guilt the very dregs.

7 But O good news of grace!
  The Father saw him come,
  And, with a smiling face,
  He ran to fetch him home;
  He ran, and fell upon his neck,
  And kissed him, for his mercy’s sake.

8 “Father,” the rebel cries,
  “I’ve sinned against thy love;”
  The Father then replies,
  “Bring hither the best robe;
  Yes, bring it forth, and put it on,
  For this my son’s alive again.

9 “Put shoes upon his feet,
  And on his hand a ring;
  Bring forth the fatted calf,
  And let us eat and sing;”
  And now the Father’s house abounds
  With joy, and sweet harmonious sounds.