Part 19

HIS way lay through Samaria, And, as the noon was high, He came to Jacob's ancient well, The town of Sychar nigh.

And, wearied with His journey, He by the well sat down, While His disciples went to buy Some food within the town.

Then, presently, a woman came-- A daughter of the land, To draw some water from the well-- Her pitcher in her hand.

And Jesus, full of pitying grace, Beyond what we can think, Looked gently in the woman's eyes, And said, "Give me to drink?"

And thus, this poor Samaritan, Who knew but sin and shame, Was led to seek the living draught, Found in Messiah's name.

And she, that single pupil, heard, By the old patriarch's well, The greatest, grandest lesson That e'er from Jesus fell.

And she believed. O, woman fair, Though fallen thou hadst been, The Searcher of all hearts in thee The seed of faith had seen;

And traveled through Samaria, To meet you, and to tell The new and wondrous doctrine That you received so well.

And now came the disciples back, Who wondered that He taught One humble woman there alone, Yet wherefore no man sought.

But the woman left her pitcher, And to the city went, And told to every one she met The wonderful event;

How she had seen a traveler, Sitting by Jacob's well, Who all her secret history Did accurately tell.

And, "Come and see him!" she exclaimed, "For he the Christ must be; Such wisdom, dignity and grace None e'er possessed as He."

Meanwhile the Lord's disciples Before Him set some meat, And urging Him with gentle words, Said, "Master, come and eat."

But, in that hour, no mortal food His craving want could fill, His heart and mind were wholly set To work His gracious will.

'Twas now the harvest day of souls, In old Samaria's fields, And He would gather all the fruit That faithful labor yields.

So He, in answer to the call That He partake of food, Taught the great lesson to all men Of always doing good.

And, now, came the Samaritans And begged the Lord to stay And lodge within their city's walls, And teach them every day.

And He who hearkens when we ask, Complied with their request; And in their city He abode Two days, an honored guest.

And many of those men believed He was the Christ--the Lord, When they beheld His holy life, And heard His gracious word.

The Nobleman's Son.

AND, now, upon His journey bent, He turned His eager face To tread the road to Galilee, Urged on by love and grace.

And on before Him went His fame. 'Mongst Jews both great and small, And teaching in their synagogues, Was glorified of all.

And He was well received by them-- The men of Galilee-- Who, at the feast of passover, His miracles did see.

There was a certain nobleman, Who in Capernaum dwelt; Whose son was sick, and nigh to death, And great concern he felt.

But hearing Jesus had returned To Galilee, was glad, And hastened to Him, to entreat That He would heal the lad.

Then Jesus said, to try his faith, "Unless ye wonders see Ye will not yield your hearts to God, Nor yet believe on me."

To this remark the nobleman Made no direct reply; But said: "Oh, Sir, come down with me Before my child shall die."

Jesus responded: "Go thy way, Thy son doth surely live;" And the man went, nor did he doubt The word the Lord did give.

And as he traveled to his home, His servants came to meet, And tell him that his son was well; His joy was now complete.

He asked them when the child improved, And they, in answer, said "The seventh hour of yesterday The burning fever fled."

That very hour, the father knew Had Jesus said he lived; And he, himself, and all his house, On Christ, the Lord, believed.

In the Synagogue.

THEN Jesus came to Nazareth, His childhood's quiet home; And, as to teach on Sabbath days His custom had become,

He, in the synagogue, stood up, To read the holy Book; And the writings of Isaias, When handed Him, He took;

And opened it, and found the place Wherein the prophet spake Of Israel's Messiah, Who should their bondage break.

He read the text, distinct and clear, Then closed the Book again, And took His seat, while on Him gazed The eyes of all the men.

And He began to say to them: "This day, in all your ears, This holy Scripture is fulfilled, After so many years."

And they, in awe and wonder, heard His words of grace and truth, And said: "Is not this Joseph's son, Whom we have known from youth?"

But soon their kind and gentle mood Began to disappear, Because He told them homely truths They did not wish to hear.

At last, the fickle people rose In wild and wicked wrath, Seized Him, and roughly led Him up The sloping, hillside path;

That, in their raging anger, they Might cast Him headlong down The precipice, one side the hill, On which was built their town.

But He passed through their very midst, An unfelt, spirit shape; And left them, standing wonder-struck At this most strange escape.

And so He went from Nazareth; His home was there no more; But in Capernaum He dwelt, And showed His grace and power.

The Draught of Fishes.

ONE day the Lord stood by the shore Of lake Gennesaret; And watched the fishermen, as there They pulled the outspread net.

And, as He stood, the people came, And pressed upon Him round, To hear Him preach the Gospel news, Which they so precious found.

Then Jesus, seeing Simon's ship Was anchored close at hand, Stepped quick aboard, and gave command To push a space from land.

And, sitting down, He taught the throng Who crowded on the shore, And heard, with joy, such heavenly truth As ne'er was preached before.

The sermon ended, then He bade Simon launch out for fish; And Simon answered that he would, If 'twere the Master's wish.

But added: "We have toiled all night, Nor sleep nor rest have sought, But through the water dragged out nets, And yet no fish have caught."

Still, while he spoke, he launched the ship Out on the waters wide, And let the net down in the sea, The vessel's' rail beside.

And lo! at once, with fish 'twas filled, A multitude so great That the strong net came wide apart, So heavy was their weight.

The fishermen their partners called To bring another ship; And soon both vessels were quite full, And sinking in the deep.

Then Simon Peter, in amaze, At Jesus' knees fell down; And said: "O Lord, depart from me, My sins to Thee are known."

But Jesus gently said to him: "Thou need'st not be afraid; From henceforth thou shalt sinners catch, By my Almighty aid."

And when they brought their ships to land, They--Peter, James and John-- Forsook their vessels and their friends And followed Christ alone.

The Unclean Spirit.

NEXT Sabbath, in the synagogue, When He stood forth to teach, The people wondered at His force, And mighty power to preach.

And one was there within whose breast A devil foul had sway; Who, held in bondage most unclean, Yet sought to praise and pray;

But, by the devil moved, cried out, And called the Lord by name; Declaring that he knew Him well, And also whence He came.

Then Jesus to the devil said: "Silence and come thou forth;" Who came forth, hurting not the man, But casting him to earth.

And all the people were amazed At what they saw that day, And said, "With power doth He speak, And spirits vile obey."

And the news spread round the country, And was told from place to place, Of the wonder-working prophet, And this miracle of grace.

Simon's Wife's Mother.

WHEN Jesus left the synagogue He did not go alone, But with Simon and with Andrew, Followed by James and John,

And entered into Simon's house, Where they besought His aid, For the kind mother of Simon's wife Was in a fever laid.

The raging fever quickly fled At His divine behest, And she arose and ministered To every waiting guest.

Casting Out Devils.

NOW, when the sun was setting low They brought all the diseased; He laid His hands on every one; To heal them He was pleased.

And many devils He cast out By His command and power; And all the people quickly came Together at the door.

The devils He forbad to speak, As they around Him trod-- For one and all acknowledged Him The Christ--the Son of God.

And so the word Esaias spoke, Foretelling Him, came true: "Himself bare our infirmities, And all our sickness knew."

The next morn, rising early, Before the break of day, He went out to a desert place, To meditate and pray.

And Simon and his company Went after Him, and said: "All seek for Thee and are amazed, Supposing Thou hast fled."

He said to them: "I go to preach In other cities too; For therefore came I down from heaven, To teach the Gospel true."

And He preached in their synagogues Throughout all Galilee; While, from before Him, as He went, He made the demons flee.

Healing a Leper.

AND now it came to pass, one day, When in a certain town, A leper, seeing Jesus, came, And on his face fell down.

And worshipped, and beseeching Him, Said: "Lord, if but Thou please, Thou hast the power to make me clean, From this most foul disease."

At once the Lord put forth His hand, And, with a gracious touch, Said: "It doth please me--be thou clean;" Thus prayer availeth much.

But Jesus charged him not to tell The miracle abroad; But go straightway unto the priest, And offer gifts to God.

Yet so much more His fame went forth, And multitudes came near, That He might heal their sicknesses, And they His words might hear.

But He stayed in the desert drear While blazed abroad the news, Fearing they would proclaim Him King, And thus provoke the Jews.

After some days He came again Into Capernaum; And it was quickly noised abroad The Master was at home.

The Man Sick of the Palsy.

AND many people gathered, till The house could hold no more; Grave doctors and proud Pharisees Thronged in and round the door.

And Jesus preached, and taught them all The precious, Gospel Word; And healed the sick who recognized The power of the Lord.

And now behold a kindly act: A bed is borne by four-- On which one sick of palsy lies-- Near to the crowded door.

And when they cannot enter in, They to the roof ascend; And, breaking it, let down the bed On which is laid their friend.

Thus to the sick man Jesus spake: "Thy sins are all forgiven." And then the scribes said in their hearts, "Who thus blasphemeth Heaven?"

Immediately the Lord perceived Their thoughts, and answer gave, "Which is the easier, from sin Or from disease to save?

"But that ye now may learn the fact, And know it from this hour, That to forgive all sin on earth The Son of man hath power;"

He said unto the sick man: "Rise, Take up thy bed and bear It on thy shoulders hence away, And to thy house repair."

Immediately the man arose, To perfect health restored; And taking up his bed, went home, And glorified the Lord.

The Calling of Matthew.

NOW, after this, as Jesus passed Where customs were received, He saw a man named Matthew sit And, knowing he believed,

Said to him only: "Follow me," And Matthew, leaving all, Rose up and the disciples joined, At this most simple call.

Then Matthew--sometimes Levi called-- Prepared a splendid feast, Inviting a great company, With Jesus, honored guest!

But Matthew was a publican, On whom the Jews did frown, And so were many of his friends, Who at the feast sat down.

And thus the scribes and Pharisees To the disciples said: "With publicans and sinners vile Why doth your Lord eat bread?"

Then Jesus said: "Not to the well, But sick, are doctors sent; And I came, not to call the good, But sinners to repent.

The Pool of Bethesda.

SOON after this, again the feast Of passover came round, And Jesus, at Jerusalem, All worshipful was found.

For, to fulfill all righteousness He taught the people all, And joined the service in God's house At every stated call.

Now, in Jerusalem, there is At the sheep-gate a pool, Bethesda called in Hebrew phrase, Five-porched, of water full.

And in these porches lay a throng, Diseased and racked with pain; Blind, halt and withered, hoping from The water help to gain.

For, sometimes, down an angel went And tossed the quiet pool; And who could, after, step in first, Was sure to be made whole.

And one poor sufferer lay there, On that unhappy ground, Who eight and thirty tedious years Infirmity had bound.

When Jesus, passing, saw him lie, He knew his wretched case; And He who shares His peoples' woes, Looked down with pitying grace;

And kindly asked the man: "Wilt thou Be healed of thy disease?" Well knowing that no earthly boon Could more the cripple please;

Who answered, in dejected tone, "Sir, I have no kind friend-- Whene'er the water is stirred up-- His kindly help to lend.

"But while with slow and painful steps, I try to move alone, Another suff'rer gets down first, Whose limbs are good and strong;"

Then Jesus said: "Rise, lift thy bed, And walk with it away." Immediately the man obeyed; And 'twas the Sabbath day.

The Jews who met him, therefore, said: "Thou'rt doing very wrong, Upon this holy, Sabbath day, To bear thy bed along."

He answered them: "The man who did The wondrous work on me, Of healing by His own command My long infirmity--

"He said: 'Take up thy bed and walk,' And, instantly, there came A healthful glow through all my limbs, With power to do the same."

Then asked they him: "What man is he, Who thus irreverent spake, Commanding thee thus wickedly The Sabbath law to break?"

But the healed man knew not the friend Who did him so much good; For Jesus bore Himself away To escape the multitude.

But afterward, as Jesus taught Within the temple gate, He found this man and said to him, "Behold thy healthy state;

"Now sin no more, lest worse should come Upon the guilty soul." Then went the man and told the Jews 'Twas Jesus made him whole.

Therefore the Jews did persecute The Lord and seek to slay, Because He did these wondrous things Upon the Sabbath day.

But Jesus preached to them the truth, In language strong and clear; And happy were they who believed, And lent a willing ear.

The Man With a Withered Hand.

AGAIN, as in the synagogue, The Lord on Sabbath taught, A man who had a withered hand His kind attention sought.

And scribes and Pharisees around Watched if the Lord would use His power to heal upon this day, That they might Him accuse.

But He, who knew their evil thoughts, Unto the sufferer said: "Arise, and stand forth in the midst;" And the poor man obeyed.

Then He, to those who watched Him, said: "I one thing ask of you; Is it on Sabbath days correct Evil or good to do?"

But they replied not, then He said: "What man among you all Shall have one sheep which on this day Into a pit shall fall;

"And he will not lay hold on it, And quickly lift it out? That man is better than a sheep, You surely cannot doubt.

"Wherefore 'tis lawful thus to do Good on the Sabbath days;" And He looked on them with surprise, Grieved by their wicked ways.

Then to the man who meekly stood, Waiting the Lord's command, In centre of the synagogue, He said: "Stretch forth thine hand."

And though the hand hung helpless down, The heart with faith was strong; And instantly ran vital force The arm's whole length along.

Then went the haughty Pharisees And the Herodians rude, And held a council to destroy Him who did only good,

But Jesus, knowing it, withdrew, Still followed by the crowd; He healed them all, but charged that they Speak not His name aloud.

The Twelve are Chosen.

AND then up to a mountain's side, One day, the path He trod, And there alone He bowed Himself All night in prayer to God;

And in the morning called all those Who Him their Master claimed, And, from amongst them, chose out twelve, Whom He apostles named.

And He ordained this favored few, With privilege to each To be with Him when He so willed, Or be sent forth to preach;

And to have power to heal the sick The dumb, the halt, the blind, And cast all evil spirits out, That vex and curse mankind.

And these were the twelve chosen men: Simon, to whom the Lord Had given the name of Peter-- A stone, both strong and hard;

And Andrew, Simon's brother, and The sons of Zebadee, Bold James and John, whom Jesus said Should Boanerges be,

Which means the sons of thunder, and Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew and Thomas, James and Jude, Both sons of Alpheus true;

Simon, who was a Canaanite-- By Luke Zelotes named-- And Judas called Iscariot; Traitor, for evil famed.

Healing the Sick.

HE then descended to the plain, To seek for food and rest, When all the people of the land In crowds around Him pressed.

The weary sick and those who felt The pangs of racking pain, And others vexed with devils hoped From Him relief to gain;

And, following, sought to touch Him, As power from Him had flown; But in compassion He beheld And healed them, every one.

The Sermon on The Mount.

AGAIN, up to the mountain side He went, and took His seat; And His disciples followed Him, And gathered round His feet.

And lifting up His eyes on them, He raised His voice to teach, Declaring those exalted truths He came on earth to preach.

He told them, first, the blessedness Of purity and grace; And that the souls most like to God Should see the Father's face.

Then told them of their high estate, Their privilege sublime, To upright stand, and shed forth light Upon the realms of time.

And taught them of the moral law, And of the law of love, For heart and spirit to be kept, All human laws above.

In simple words He framed for them A solemn, fervent prayer, By which they could approach to God, And on Him cast their care.

He taught that, if their neighbors' faults Were lovingly forgiven, They all might claim in humble faith The Fatherhood of Heaven.

Then charged them 'gainst the error made From that time until now, That men to different masters Allegiance can avow.

"For God," He said, "ye cannot serve, And mammon serve beside; In love to one and not to both, Your spirit must abide."

He then the precious lesson taught Of God's vast providence, Which is our faithful guardian, And our secure defence.

The little songsters of the air, The lilies of the field, Are fed, and clothed, from day to day, While they no forethought yield.

And man, much better in His sight-- How little faith has he, To doubt the providential care That all his needs can see!

"Seek first the kingdom of your God, His righteousness divine, And all the stores of earthly good Shall graciously be thine."

The Preacher then went on to charge 'Gainst judging others' sin-- Those fond of spying evil deeds, Should with their own begin.

And they who ask, or seek, or knock, God never will deny; And men to other men should do As they would be done by.

And it is wise to enter in The narrow way and straight; And shun the way where many go-- The wide and open gate.

Though men may openly appear What they are not within; Yet you shall know, if in their lives You see the fruit of sin.

For every good and perfect tree Doth faultless fruit bring forth; But when you see an evil tree, Its fruit is nothing worth.

And each tree bearing not good fruit Into the fire is cast; Wherefore, 'tis by their deeds ye know The doom of all, at last.

"Not every one who says to Me; "Lord, Lord,' shall enter heaven; But he that does my Father's will; And knows his sins forgiven.

"Many will say to me that day: 'I've done good in Thy Name;' I never knew you, I will say, I disregard your claim.

"Therefore, who hears these words of mine And doth not doubt or mock, Is like a man who wisely built His house upon a rock.

"And the rain fell and floods came on, And winds blew fierce and long; But that house stood, securely firm, On its foundation strong.

"And every one that hears my words And disobeys, shall stand Like to a foolish man, who built His house upon the sand;

"And the rain fell and floods came on, And winds blew round and round Upon that house, and soon it fell In ruins on the ground."

The Centurion's Servant.

AND, now, when Jesus entered Into Capernaum; A Centurion besought Him for A servant, sick at home.

"I will come," He said, "and heal him." The Centurion answered: "Lord, I am not worthy Thou should'st come, But only speak the word.

"For I, myself, am in command, And whatsoe'er I say To one, or to another man, They instantly obey."

When Jesus heard him, in surprise He said to those around: "I verily, in Israel, Such great faith have not found."

Then said to the Centurion: "Go, Thy faith the work has sealed;" And in the self-same hour he found His servant had been healed.

Raising the Widow's Son.

IT came to pass upon the day Succeeding this event, That as He journeyed on His way, Much people with Him went.

Along the road He traveled on, Until He came to Nain; When, just outside the city gate, He met a funeral train.

In sorrow they were bearing forth A weeping widow's son; And many sympathized with her-- He was her only one.

And when the Lord saw her He had Compassion on her grief; And said unto her: "Weep no more, I bring you sure relief."

He touched the bier, and all the friends Stood still in mute surprise, When to the dead He spoke: "Young man, I say to thee arise."

And the dead youth sat up, alive, And to her speechless joy, The mother from the Lord received Her resurrected boy.

The Pharisee and the Woman.

IT happened that a Pharisee Invited Christ to eat, When a poor, sinful woman came And worshipped at His feet;

And washed them with her copious tears, And wiped them with her hair, And kissed them, and anointed them With ointment rich and rare.

The Pharisee, within himself, Said: "If this man were wise, And were a prophet, he would know This sinner to despise."

And Jesus, answering his thought, Explained the woman's love: She was a sinner who, now saved, Her gratitude would prove.

And while the guests in wonder gazed, He to the woman spoke: "Thy sins are all forgiven--thy faith Hath broken Satan's yoke."

The Blind and Dumb Man.

AGAIN a man they bring to Him, Of Satan sore possessed, Both blind and dumb, in wretched plight, But Jesus gave him rest.

The sufferer both spake and saw, When people, every one, Who saw this miracle, exclaimed: "Is not this David's Son?"

But the proud Pharisees, in heart Ignored this title true; And said the wondrous healing gift To Satan's power was due.