Hymn: The Good Samaritan

Here’s John Newton’s re-telling of the story of the Good Samaritan in poetic form.  The hymn was published in Olney Hymns, 1779.

The Good Samaritan
(based on Luke 10: 25-37)

How kind the good Samaritan
To him who fell among the thieves!
Thus Jesus pities fallen man,
And heals the wounds the soul receives.

O! I remember well the day,
When sorely wounded, nearly slain;
Like that poor man I bleeding lay,
And groaned for help, but groaned in vain.

Men saw me in this helpless case,
And passed without compassion by;
Each neighbor turned away his face,
Unmoved by my mournful cry.

But he whose name had been my scorn,
As Jews Samaritans despise
Came, when he saw me thus forlorn,
With love and pity in his eyes.

Gently he raised me from the ground,
Pressed me to lean upon his arm;
And into every gaping wound
He poured his own all-healing balm.

Unto his church my steps he led,
The house prepared for sinners lost;
Gave charge I should be clothed and fed;
And took upon him all the cost.

Thus saved from death, from want secured,
I wait till he again shall come,
When I shall be completely cured
And take me to his heav'nly home.

There through eternal boundless days,
When nature's wheel no longer rolls,
How shall I love, adore, and praise,
This good Samaritan to souls!

~ John Newton, Olney Hymns 1779

If you want to try singing this with your congregation, here are a few possible tunes:
CANONBURY (“Lord, speak to me that I may speak”)
MARYTON (“O Master, let me walk with Thee”)
O WALY, WALY (“Though I may speak with bravest fire”)
LAMB OF GOD (“Your only Son, no sin to hide” Twila Paris)