Naaman

I

  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.

II

  “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.”

III

  Thus, by his foolish pride,
  He almost miss’d a cure;
  Howe’er at length he tried,
  And found the method sure:
Soon as the pride was brought to yield
The leprosy was quickly heal’d.

IV

  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.

V

  My heart devised the way
  Which I supposed 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 inclined.

VI

  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 his simple way.

VII

  At length I trial made,
  When I had much endured;
  The message I obey’d⁠—
  I wash’d, and I was cured.
Sinners, this healing fountain try,
Which cleansed a wretch so vile as I.