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II KINGS.
BOOK I.
'Twas open'd for thy sake,—
"Go wash, and thou art free;"
Oh! how did my proud heart gainsay,—
I fear'd to trust his simple way.
"Go wash, and thou art free;"
Oh! how did my proud heart gainsay,—
I fear'd to trust his simple way.
7 At length I trial made,
When I had much endured;
The message I obey'd,—
I wash'd, and I was cured.
Sinners, this healing fountain try,
Which cleansed a wretch so vile as I.
When I had much endured;
The message I obey'd,—
I wash'd, and I was cured.
Sinners, this healing fountain try,
Which cleansed a wretch so vile as I.
39.
The borrowed Axe.—2 Kings, vi, 5, 6.
1 The prophets' sons in times of old,
Though to appearance poor,
Were rich without possessing gold,
And honour'd though obscure.
Though to appearance poor,
Were rich without possessing gold,
And honour'd though obscure.
2 In peace their daily bread they eat,
By honest labour earn'd;
While daily at Elisha's feet
They grace and wisdom learn'd.
By honest labour earn'd;
While daily at Elisha's feet
They grace and wisdom learn'd.
3 The prophet's presence cheer'd their toil,
They watch'd the words he spoke,
Whether they turn'd the furrow'd soil,
Or fell'd the spreading oak.
They watch'd the words he spoke,
Whether they turn'd the furrow'd soil,
Or fell'd the spreading oak.
4 Once as they listen'd to his theme
Their conference was stopp'd;
For one beneath the yielding stream
A borrow'd axe had dropp'd.
Their conference was stopp'd;
For one beneath the yielding stream
A borrow'd axe had dropp'd.
5 "Alas! it was not mine," he said;
"How shall I make it good?"
Elisha heard, and when he pray'd,
The iron swam like wood.
"How shall I make it good?"
Elisha heard, and when he pray'd,
The iron swam like wood.
6 If God in such a small affair
A miracle performs,
It shows his condescending care
Of poor unworthy worms.
A miracle performs,
It shows his condescending care
Of poor unworthy worms.