O Christ, the Vine with living Fruit, br The twelvefold-fruited Tree of Life, br The Balm in Gilead after strife, br The valley Lily and the Rose; br Stronger than Lebanon, Thou Root; br Sweeter than clustered grapes, Thou Vine; br O Best, Thou Vineyard of red wine, br Keeping thy best wine till the close. br br Pearl of great price Thyself alone, br And ruddier than the ruby Thou; br Most precious lightning Jasper stone, br Head of the corner spurned before: br Fair Gate of pearl, Thyself the Door; br Clear golden Street, Thyself the Way; br By Thee we journey toward Thee now, br Through Thee shall enter Heaven one day. br br I thirst for Thee, full fount and flood; br My heart calls Thine, as deep to deep: br Dost Thou forget Thy sweat and pain, br They provocation on the Cross? br Heart-pierced for me, vouchsafe to keep br The purchase of Thy lavished Blood: br The gain is Thine, Lord, if I gain; br Or if I lose, Thine own the loss. br br At midnight (saith the Parable) br A cry was made, the Bridegroom came; br Those who were ready entered in: br The rest, shut out in death and shame, br Strove all too late that Feast to win, br Their die was cast, and fixed their lot; br A gulf divided Heaven from Hell; br The Bridegroom said—I know you not. br br But Who is this that shuts the door, br And saith—I know you not—to them? br I see the wounded hands and side, br The brow thorn-tortured long ago: br Yea; This Who grieved and bled and died, br This same is He Who must condemn; br He called, but they refused to know; br So now He hears their cry no more.