The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 45
The Liquor Dealer's Prayer
The Liquor Dealer's Prayer.
' When ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear; your hands are full of blood. Wash you, make, you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes."—Isaiah i. 15, 16.
At evening he retired to pray,
And, kneeling low, began to say:
"Our Father, still in heaven the same,
Hallowed be thy glorious name "—
When conscience rising in his breast
The prostrate suppliant thus addressed:
"Daily you sell that drink for gain
Which makes your neighbour so profane;
With boisterous baud and poisoned breath,
He scatters firebrands, arrows, death;
Can then your heart one wish afford
That God's great name should be adored?"
Although convicted, almost dumb,
He still proceeds—" Thy kingdom come!"
Again does the reprover rise—
The monitor within replies:
"You still pursue that deadly craft—
Still vend the soul-destroying draught,
Which so obstructs that kingdom's course,
And adds to sin and Satan's force;
How dare you now pretend to plead
That heavenly kingdom to succeed?'
Still venturing on, once more he said,
"Give us each day our daily bread"—
"What! while your bins and bags contain,
Exchanged for drink, the poor man's grain;
Or in your till the price is laid
Which should have bought his children bread.
His soul with keen conviction stung,
With struggling heart and faltering tongue
He cries: "Forgive! grant me salvation,
And henceforth keep me from temptation;
Nor any longer will I lay
Temptation in my neighbour's way;
What thus is gain, when understood,
I see to be the price of blood;
I'd rather dig, or beg, or serve—
Yea, henceforth, sooner will I starve
Rather than once again I'll stain
My hand with such unrighteous gain!"
"Cease to do evil; learn to do well. Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall as white as snow."——Isaiah i. 16,18.