THE THREE BIDDERS

by Bill
(Forest Grove, Ore)

Will you listen, kind friends, for a moment,
While a story to you I unfold;
A marvelous tale, of a wonderful sale,
Of a noble lady of old;
How hand and heart, at an auction mart,
Soul and body she sold.

'Twas on the broad "king's highway."
Near a century ago,
That a preacher stood, whose heart overflowed,
Telling the fallen and low
Of a saviour's love and a home above,
And a peace that they all might know.

All crowded 'round to listen;
And they wept at the wondrous love
That could wash their sin, and receive them in
His spotless mansion above;
While slow through the crowd, a lady proud,
In her gilded chariot drove.

"Make room," cried the haughty outrider,
"You are closing the king's highway;
My lady is late, and their Majesties wait;
Give way there, good people, I pray."
The preacher heard, and his soul was stirred,
And he cried to the rider, "Nay!"

His eye like the lightening flashes;
His voice like a trumpet rings --
"Your grand fete-days
And your fashions and ways
Are all but perishing things.
'Tis the king's highway, but I hold it today
In the name of the King of kings."

Then -- bending his gaze on the lady,
And marking her soft eye fall --
"And now, in His name, a sale I proclaim,
And bids for this fair lady call.
Who will purchase the whole --
Her body and soul.
Coronet, jewels and all?

"I see already three bidders --"
The world steps up as the first;
"I will give her my treasures
And all the pleasures
For which my votaries thirst;
She shall dance each day, more joyous and gay,
With a quiet grave at the worst."

But out speaks the Devil boldly --
"The kingdoms of earth are mine.
Fair lady, thy name, with an envied fame,
On their brightest tablets shall shine;
Only give me thy soul, and I'll give the the whole.
Their glory and wealth to be thine."

"And pray, what hast Thou to offer --
Thou Man of Sorrows, unknown?"
And He gently said, "My blood I have shed,
To purchace her for Mine own.
To conquer the grave, and her soul to save,
I bore the judgement alone.

"I will give her my cross of suffering,
My cup of sorrow to share;
But with endless love, in My home above,
All shall be righted there;
She shall walk in light, in a robe of white,
And a radiant crown shall wear."

"Thou hast heard the terms, fair lady,
That each hath offered thee.
Which wilt thou choose, and which wilt thou lose,
This life, or the life to be?
The fable was mine, but the choice is yet thine,
Fair lady! Which of the three?"

Nearer the stand of the preacher
The gilded chariot stole,
And each head was bowed, as over the crowd
The thundering accents roll;
And every word, as the lady heard,
Burned in her very soul.

"Pardon , good people," she whispered,
As she rose from her cushioned seat.
Full well, they say, as the crowd made way,
You could hear her pulses beat;
And each head was bare, as the lady fair
Knelt at the preacher's feet.

She took from her hands the jewels,
The coronet from her brow.
"Lord Jesus," she said, as she bowed her head,
"The highest bidder art Thou.
Thou gav'st for my sake Thy life, and I take
Thy offer -- and take it now.

"I know the world and its pleasures,
At best they weary and cloy;
And the Tempter is bold, but his honors and gold
Prove ever a fatal decoy.
I long for thy rest--- Thy bid is the best;
Lord I accept it with joy.

"Give me Thy cup of suffering,
Welcome earth's sorrow and loss,
Let my portion be to thank and praise Thee
For taking my place on the cross.
I Gladly lay down this coveted crown,
And count the World's glory but dross."

"Amen!" said the earnest preacher;
And the people wept aloud.
Years have rolled on -- and they all have gone
Who formed that awe-struck crowd.
Lady and throng have been swept along
On the wind like a morning cloud.

But the Saviour has claimed His purchase,
And around His radiant seat,
A mightier throng, in an endless song,
The wonderous story repeat.
And a form more fair is bending there,
Laying her crown at His feet.

******************************************************************
Dear Friend :
These bidders three, still bid for thee,
Their terms remain the same.
Which wilt thou choose, and which wilt thou lose,
This life or the life to be?
Author Unknown
******************************************************************

Comments for THE THREE BIDDERS

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Apr 27, 2024
Blessed assurance Jesus is mine
by: Anonymous

Wonderful.....to be read aloud.

Thank You Lord Jesus with all my heart that You bid for me too.

Give me the courage to preach the King of Kings on the Kings highway as You command because You don't want anyone to perish.


Sep 03, 2019
A great true story! The three bidders
by: Malcolm Grace

My eldest sister used to quote this by heart back in the 1940's. I have searched for it over the last few years and I am so pleased to find it again! A wonderful poem that should be known by all young Christians.

Jun 04, 2018
A Gospel mtg. at Arnstein Gospel Hall.
by: David Booth

Sunday night, June 4 2018, Mr. Ernie Bain, 86 years old preached a Gospel message and ended it by quoting from memory the poem " The Three Bidders"
It was so powerful you could hear a pin drop in the spell bound hall. It brought a tear to many an eye that night.

Dec 29, 2017
True Story
by: Kaiservant

The preacher in this poem was Rowland Hill (1744-1833) and the story is true--an account of the confrontation and conversion of Lady Anne Erksine. The full poem has 20 verses. The author is unknown. Somehow, for many years, the poem was credited to Isaac Watts (famous hymn writer) but Watts died when Rowland Hill was only about four years old. The poem is still in print, and a new complete edition should soon be available: wwwBibleTruthPublishers.com

Aug 07, 2017
Great poem
by: George

My mum said this in full at sunday school when she was 12 years of age from memory she passed away at 91 in 2009 it still brings tears to my eyes when I just read it let this be in our hearts as we go on our path through life. Praise god for his great love to us. Proverbs 3 v 5/6

Apr 20, 2017
blast from my past
by: Ruthie

When I was about 12 or thirteen years old (in about 1956) I got in the habit of memorizing poetry that I liked...I propped a copy up on the windowsill in our home and kept it there until I could say it from memory...this is one of the first ones I learned but has two or three stanzas that weren't in the version I had....thanks for putting it on the web....Ruthie

Mar 08, 2017
poem
by: Anonymous

So thankful for what the Savoir has done for me, this is one of my favorite poems

Nov 06, 2016
poem
by: Anonymous

Love, love this poem. So thankful for what the Saviour has done in my life

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