Devotional Verses Founded on and Illustrative of select Texts of Scripture [by Bernard Barton] |
 |
NAAMAN'S PRIDE AND FOLLY. |
 | Devotional Verses |  |
NAAMAN'S PRIDE AND FOLLY.
“Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than
all the waters of Israel? May I not wash in them and be clean?”
—2 Kings, v. 12.
Thus arrogant, and thus absurd
Was he who then the prophet heard:
We blame his language;—are not we
As foolish and as proud as he?
Was he who then the prophet heard:
We blame his language;—are not we
As foolish and as proud as he?
A fountain is unseal'd to save,
Of virtue passing Jordan's wave,
Beyond Bethesda's healing spring,
Though ruffled by an angel's wing.
Of virtue passing Jordan's wave,
Beyond Bethesda's healing spring,
Though ruffled by an angel's wing.
59
There might we, in this gospel day,
Wash all our leprosy away,
Cleanse from our spirits every stain,
And more than child-like whiteness gain.
Wash all our leprosy away,
Cleanse from our spirits every stain,
And more than child-like whiteness gain.
But faith is low, and pride is high,
We view that fount with doubting eye,
And choose with proud and angry tone
Abanas, Pharpars of our own.
We view that fount with doubting eye,
And choose with proud and angry tone
Abanas, Pharpars of our own.
O Thou! whose love that fount unseal'd,
By which, alone, we can be heal'd,
Strengthen our faith, subdue our pride,
Nor let our leprosy abide.
By which, alone, we can be heal'd,
Strengthen our faith, subdue our pride,
Nor let our leprosy abide.
As then by Jordan's hallow'd brim
The leper's followers strove with him,
Beside thy holier fountain now
Our spirits in subjection bow.
The leper's followers strove with him,
Beside thy holier fountain now
Our spirits in subjection bow.
Teach us in simple faith to prove
The power of thy redeeming love,
That like the Syrian we may see,
And own there is no God like thee.
The power of thy redeeming love,
That like the Syrian we may see,
And own there is no God like thee.
| Devotional Verses | |