Bartimeus

I

“Mercy, thou son of David!”
Thus blind Bartimeus pray’d;
“Others by thy word are saved,
Now to me afford thine aid.”
Many for his crying chid him,
But he call’d the louder still,
Till the gracious Saviour bid him
“Come, and ask me what you will.”

II

Money was not what he wanted,
Though by begging used to live;
But he ask’d, and Jesus granted
Alms which none but he could give:
“Lord, remove this grievous blindness,
Let my eyes behold the day;”
Straight he saw and, won by kindness,
Follow’d Jesus in the way.

III

Oh! methinks I hear him praising,
Publishing to all around,
“Friends, is not my case amazing?
What a Saviour I have found!
Oh! that all the blind but knew him,
And would be advised by me;
Surely they would hasten to him,
He would cause them all to see.”