Love Bade Me Welcome
SATB and organ. A beautiful setting of the George Herbert poem. Just beautiful! Written for the 1998 Sewanee Church Music Conference and acclaimed by all who sang or heard it.
Love bade me welcome, yet my soul drew back, Guilty of dust and sin. But quick-ey'd Love, observing me grow slack From my first entrance in, Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning If I lack'd anything. A guest, I answer'd, "worthy to be here"; Love said, "You shall be he." "I, the unkind, the ungrateful? ah my dear, I cannot look on thee." Love took my hand and smiling did reply, Who made the eyes but I? "Truth, Lord, but I have marr'd them; let my shame Go where it doth deserve." And know you not, says Love, "who bore the blame?" My dear, then I will serve. You must sit down, says Love, "and taste my meat." So I did sit and eat.