The wilderness blooms like a rose,
The heart which was vile and abhorr d
Now fruitful and beautiful grows
The garden and joj of the Lord.
38.
Naaman. —2 Kings, v, 14.
1 BEFORE Elisha s gate
The Syrian leper stood ;
But could not brook to wait,
He deem d himself too good :
He thought the prophet would attend,
And not to him a message send.
2 " Have I this journey come,
And will he not be seen ?
I were as well at home
Would washing make me clean ;
Why must I wash in Jordan s flood?
Damascus rivers are as good."
3 Thus, by his foolish pride,
He almost miss d a cure ;
Howe er at length he tried,
And found the method sure :
Soon as the pride was brought to yield
The leprosy was quickly heal d.
4 Leprous and proud as he,
To Jesus thus I came,
From sin to set me free,
When first I heard his fame :
Surely, thought I, my pompous train
Of vows and tears will notice gain.
5 My heart devised the way
Which I supposed he d take ;
And when I found delay,
Was ready to go back :
Had he some painful task enjoin d,
I to performance seem d inclined.
6 When by his word he spake,
"That fountain open d see ;
