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)
