98.
The Two Debtors.—Luke, vii, 47.
1 OXCE a woman silent stood
While Jesus sat at meat ;
From her eyes she pour d a flood,
To wash his sacred feet :
Shame and wonder, joy and love,
All at once possess d her mind,
That she e er so vile could prove,
Yet now forgiveness find.
2 " How came this vile woman here ?
Will Jesus notice such ?
Sure, if he a prophet were,
^ He would disdain her touch!"
Simon thus, with scornful heart,
I Slighted one whom Jesus loved ;
But her Saviour took her part,
And thus his pride reproved :
3 "If two men in debt were bound,
One less, the other more,
Fifty, or five hundred pound,
And both alike were poor ;
Should the lender both forgive
When he saw them both distress d,
Which of them would you believe
Engaged to love him best ?
4 " Surely he who most did owe "
The Pharisee replied :
Then our Lord, "By judging so,
Thou dost for her decide :
Simon, if like her you knew
How much you forgiveness need,
i ou like her had acted too,
And welcomed me indeed.
5 " When the load of sin is felt,
And much forgiveness known
inen the heart of course will melt,
Though hard before as stone :
