The Woman of Samaria

I

Jesus, to what didst thou submit,
To save thy dear-bought flock from hell!
Like a poor trav’ler see him sit
Athirst and weary by the well.

II

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!

III

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.

IV

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

V

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.

VI

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

VII

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.

VIII

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.