254 Bartimeus. 8s & 7s.

"Mercy, oh, thou Son of David!"
Thus blind Bartimeus prayed;
"Others by thy word are saved,
Now to me afford thine aid."

2 Many for his crying chid him, --
But he called the louder still;
Till the gracious Savior bade him, --
"Come, and ask me what you will."

3 Money was not what he wanted,
Though by begging used to live;
But he asked, and Jesus granted,
Alms which none but he could give.

4 "Lord! remove this grievous blindness,
Let mine eyes behold the day!"
Straight he saw, and, won by kindness,
Followed Jesus in the way.

5 Oh! methinks I hear him praising,
Publishing to all around,
"Friends! is not my case amazing?
What a Savior I have found!

6 "Oh! that all the blind but knew him,
And would be advised by me!
Surely would they hasten to him,
He would cause them all to see."

John Newton, 1779.