She would not yield a sip
E'en if its maker sued,
While he from love, with thirsting lip,
Sought and her heart renewed.
He made her ask for life,
Eternal life through him,
And "living water" was the type
To her perception dim.
O yes! She fain would taste
And never thirst again,
And never cross the burning waste
In weariness and pain!
Her life he questioned now;
Revealed her history.
She must have blushed. How could he know?
Here was a mystery!
Abashed she now replied,
"Thou art a prophet, sir!"
And straightway sought with clannish pride
Instruction's voice to hear;
Instruction that will bless
The world each passing day,
For every spot man's feet may press,
There may he praise and pray.
The woman lent her ear,
Then urged Messiah's plea.
Amazing words she now doth hear,
"I that speak unto thee am he."
What joy! The angels too
Must share it from above.
She left her water-pot, and flew
On feet made swift by love.
Oh, will these tidings last?
This news, it must be spread!
"He knows my present, knows my past;
This is the Christ," she said.
That woman lost in sin
Drank of the living spring,
Then swiftly sped dead souls to win,
And to that fountain bring.
Forbid that we should shrink
To publish grace so free,
For all who will that tide may drink
And live eternally.
They begged that he would stay,
Believed the truths unfurled,
And joyfully received that day
The Saviour of the world.
JESUS INTERCEDES
_Seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them._--Hebrews 7:25.
When winding up the path of life,
Sometimes mid thorns, sometimes mid flowers,
Oft weary of its toil and strife,
Oft weary of its wintry hours,
There is one thought than all more sweet
From care my longing heart to free;
'Tis this--oh, wondrous to repeat--
That Jesus intercedes for me.
And always when the path is steep,
I cling unto this wayside rope:
Nothing can give so great relief,
Nothing can give a brighter hope.
'Tis like a stately spreading palm,
Which forms my spirit's canopy,
'Neath which I breathe the soothing balm
That Jesus intercedes for me.
And when I reach the sea of death,
To sail its silent waters o'er,
This thought shall calm my l
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