4 No barn nor store-house they possess
On which they can depend;

Yet have no cause to fear distress,
For Jesus is their friend.

5 Then let not doubts your mind assail, Remember God has said,

"The cruse and barrel shall not fail,
"My people shall be fed."

6 And thus, though faint it often seems,
He keeps their grace alive;
Supply'd by his refreshing streams,
Their dying hopes revive.

7 Though in ourselves we have no stock,
The Lord is nigh to save;

His door flies open when we knock,
And 'tis but ask and have.

II. KINGS.

XXXVII. Jericho, or, the Waters healed.
Chap. ii. 19-22.

1 THOUGH Jericho pleasantly stood,
And look'd like a promising soil,
The harvest produc'd little food,
To answer the husbandman's toil.
The water some property had,

Which poisonous prov'd to the ground;
The springs were corrupted and bad,
The streams spread a barrenness round.

2 But soon by the cruse and the salt,
Prepar'd by Elisha's command,
The water was cur'd of its fault,

And plenty enriched the land :

An emblem sure this of the grace

On fruitless dead sinners bestow'd;
For man is in Jericho's case,

Till cur'd by the mercy of God.

3 How noble a creature he seems;

What knowledge, invention, and skill!
How large and extensive his schemes!
How much can he do if he will!

His zeal to be learned and wise
Will yield to no limits or bars;
He measures the earth and the skies,
And numbers and marshals the stars.

4 Yet still he is barren of good;

In vain are his talents and art;
For sin has infected his blood,

And poison'd the streams of his heart:
Though cockatrice eggs he can hatch,

Or, spider-like, cobwebs can weave*, 'Tis madness to labour and watch For what will destroy or deceive.

5 But grace, like the salt in the cruse,
When cast in the spring of the soul;
A wonderful change will produce,
Diffusing new life through the whole :
The wilderness blooms like a rose,

The heart which was vile and abhorr'd,
Now fruitful and beautiful grows,
The garden and joy of the Lord.

* Isa. lix. 5.

XXXVIII. Naaman. Chap. v. 14.

1 BEFORE Elisha's gate

The Syrian leper stood;
But could not brook to wait,

He deem'd himself too good:

He thought the prophet would attend, And not to him a message send.

2 Have I this journey come, And will he not be seen?

I were as well at home,

Would washing make me clean; Why must I wash in Jordan's flood? Damascus' rivers are as good.

3 Thus, by his foolish pride, He almost miss'd a cure;

Howe'er at length he try'd,

And found the method sure:

Soon as his pride was brought to yield, The leprosy was quickly heal'd.

4 Leprous and proud as he, To Jesus thus I came,

From sin to set me free,

When first I heard his fame :

Surely, thought I, my pompous train Of vows and tears will notice gain.

5 My heart devis'd the way

Which I suppos'd he'd take;
And when I found delay,

Was ready to go back,

Had he some painful task enjoin d,
I to performance seem'd inclin'd.

6 When by his word he spake,

"That fountain open'd see; "'Twas open'd for thy sake,

"Go wash, and thou art free:" Oh! how did my proud heart gainsay, I fear'd to trust this simple way!

7 At length I trial made,

When I had much endur'd;
The message I obey'd,—

I wash'd, and I was cured:
Sinners, this healing fountain try,
Which cleans'd a wretch so vile as I.

XXXIX. The Borrowed Axe. Chap. vi. 5, 6.

1 THE prophet's sons, in times of old,
Though to appearance poor,
Were rich without possessing gold,
And honour'd, though obscure.

2 In peace their daily bread they eat,
By honest labour earn'd;
While daily at Elisha's feet

They grace and wisdom learn'd.

3 The prophet's presence cheer'd their toil,
They watch'd the words he spoke,
Whether they turn'd the furrow'd soil,
Or fell'd the spreading oak.

4 Once, as they listen'd to his theme,
Their conference was stopp'd;
For one beneath the yielding stream
A borrow'd axe had dropp'd.

5 "Alas! it was not mine," he said,

"How shall I make it good?" Elisha heard, and when he pray'd, The iron swam like wood.

6 If God, in such a small affair,
A miracle performs,

It shows his condescending care
Of poor unworthy worms.

7 Though kings and nations in his view
Are but as motes and dust,
His eye and ear are fix'd on you,
Who in his mercy trust.

8 Not one concern of ours is small,
If we belong to him;

To teach us this, the Lord of all
Once made the iron swim.

XL. More with us than with them. Chap. vi. 16.

1 ALAS! Elisha's servant cry'd,
When he the Syrian army spy'd:
But he was soon releas'd from care,
In answer to the prophet's pray r.

2 Straightway he saw, with other eyes,
A greater army from the skies,
A fiery guard around the hill;
Thus are the saints preserved still.

3 When Satan and his host appear,
Like him, of old, I faint and fear;
Like him, by faith, with joy I see,
A greater host engag'd for me.