The Good Shepherd's Reply to the Two Lovers

For a bit of background to this poem: I was introduced to two poems in my swimming through the sea of academia, one was "The Passionate Shepherd to His Love" by Christopher Marlowe, and "The Nymph's Reply to the Shepherd" by Sir Walter Raleigh.

Marlowe's poem was written in 1593, and Raleigh's reply to Marlowe's poem was written in 1596.

This poem is my reply to these two pastoral poems. If you wish to know about the context of this poem read the other two in order, if not, please enjoy the truth from God's Word:

The Good Shepherd's Reply to the Two Lovers

If love alone could satisfy,

And lover’s touch would never die,

To worldly pleasures would you hold?

When Reaper’s touch turns all to cold?

Were Nature’s beauty yours to grasp,

All riches human hands to craft,

Yet treasures fall to ruin or thief,

And Nature’s beauties fade in grief.

If ash be all your labors gain,

Then listen now to Love’s refrain,

I’ll lead you to the quiet streams,

And let you rest in fields of green.

Seek Me by the narrow path,

Lest ye be a child of Wrath,

If to the narrow Way you hold,

I’ll welcome you into My Fold.

As Shepherd I will gently lead,

Till you from vice and Death are freed,

My blood will wash you white and pure,

And by it make your ransom sure.

So now to Me I bid you flee,

From earthly dust and ash be free,

I pray My words your soul will move,

To come to Me and be My love.