'Lord (he pray'd), remember me,
When in glory Thou shalt be:'
'Soon with Me (the Lord replies)
Thou shalt rest in Paradise.'

This was wondrous grace indeed,
Grace vouchsafed in time of need!
Sinners, trust in Jesus' name,
You shall find Him still the same.

But beware of unbelief;

Think upon the harden'd thief;
If the Gospel you disdain,
Christ to you will die in vain.

.JOHN.

111. THE WOMAN OF SAMARIA.
Chap. iv. 28.

JESUS, to what didst Thou submit

To save Thy dear-bought flock from hell!
Like a poor traveller see Him sit,
Athirst and weary by the well.

The woman, who for water came,
(What great events on small depend!)
Then learn'd the glory of His name,

The Well of Life, the sinner's Friend!

Taught from her birth to hate the Jews,
And fill'd with party-pride, at first
Her zeal induced her to refuse

Water to quench the Saviour's thirst.

But soon she knew the gift of God;
And Jesus, whom she scorn'd before,
Unasked, that drink on her bestow'd
Which whoso tastes shall thirst no more.

His words her prejudice removed,
. Her sin she felt, relief she found;
She saw and heard, believed and loved,
And ran to tell her neighbours round.

'O come, this wondrous man behold!
The promised Saviour! This is He
Whom ancient prophecies foretold-
Born from our guilt to set us free.'

Like her, in ignorance content,

I worshipp'd long I knew not what; Like her, on other things intent,

I found Him when I sought Him not.

He told me all that e'er I did,

And told me all was pardon'd too!
And now, like her, as He has bid,
I live to point Him out to you.

112. POOL OF BETHESDA.* Chap. v. 2-4.

BESIDE the Gospel pool,

Appointed for the poor,

From year to year my helpless soul

Has waited for a cure.

How often have I seen

The healing waters move;
And others round me, stepping in,

Their efficacy prove!

But my complaints remain;

I feel the very same;

As full of guilt, and fear, and pain,

As when at first I came.

O would the Lord appear
My malady to heal!

He knows how long I've languish'd here,

And what distress I feel.

How often have I thought,

Why should I longer lie?
Surely the mercy I have sought
Is not for such as I.

But whither can I go?

There is no other pool

Where streams of sov'reign virtue flow,

To make a sinner whole.

* Book iii., Hymn 7.

Here, then, from day to day,

I'll wait, and hope, and try;
Can Jesus hear a sinner pray,
Yet suffer him to die?

No: He is full of grace;
He never will permit

A soul that fain would see His face
To perish at His feet.

113. Another.

HERE, at Bethesda's pool, the poor,
The wither'd, halt, and blind,
With waiting hearts expect a cure,
And free admittance find.

Here streams of wondrous virtue flow,
To heal a sin-sick soul;

To wash the filthy white as snow,
And make the wounded whole.

The dumb break forth in songs of praise,
The blind their sight receive;
The cripple runs in wisdom's ways,
The dead revive and live!

Restrain'd to no one case or time,

These waters always move; Sinners in every age and clime Their vital influence prove.

Yet numbers daily near them lie,

Who meet with no relief;

With life in view, they pine and die
In hopeless unbelief.

'Tis strange they should refuse to bathe, And yet frequent the pool;

But none can even wish for faith
While love of sin bears rule.

Satan their consciences has seal'd,
And stupified their thought;
For, were they willing to be heal'd,
The cure would soon be wrought.

Do Thou, dear Saviour, interpose,
Their stubborn wills constrain;
Or else to them the water flows,
And grace is preach'd, in vain.

114. THE DISCIPLES AT SEA.*
Chap. vi. 16-21.

CONSTRAIN'D by their Lord to embark,
And venture without Him to sea;
The season tempestuous and dark,
How grieved the disciples must be!
But though He remain'd on the shore,
He spent the night for them in prayer;
*Book ii., Hymn 87.