John, the Scribe, saith
Eternal Life.
(The Gospel History, Sections 23 and 24)
He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is of the earth, and of the earth he speaketh: he that cometh from heaven is above all. What he hath seen and heard, of that he beareth witness; and no man receiveth his witness. He that hath received his witness hath set his seal to this, that God is true. For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for he giveth not the Spirit by measure. The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. He that believeth on the Son hath eternal life; but he that obeyeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him.
When therefore the Lord knew how that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John (although Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples), he left Judæa, and departed again into Galilee. And he must needs pass through Samaria.
John, the Scribe, saith
(The Saviour of the World, Vol I Book III Poem XIII)
Then John, that other John, the scribe who wrote:—
Needs must it be that Christ in all be first!
He cometh from above, and is above;
No other hath ascended into heaven,
And brought us knowledge of the things of God,
Things He hath seen and heard; yet none believes!
When any doth believe, opening his soul,
Such man sets seal to this, that God is true;
For all that God hath through the ages promised
Perceives this man, with sudden joy, in Him
Who is sent of God, speaketh the words of God,
And on whom is that pouring out of the Spirit,
Without or stint or measure, Esaias told of:
These be the signs by which we know Him, Christ!
Such and so great the Father’s love for the Son
That all things, life and death, and health and sickness,
Waters and winds, and all the souls of men,
And all ill demons that oppress men’s souls,
And every other thing man’s mind conceives,—
All these the Father into His hand hath given;—
And more, eternal life for who believes.
But if a man believe not, nor obey,
Seeing the brightness of the Father’s glory,
How shall such wretch escape the Father’s wrath?
When Jesus knew the Pharisees had heard
That multitudes, greater than those had sought
The baptism of John, now flocked to Him
To hear and be baptized, (though He Himself
Baptized not, but His disciples), He left Judæa,
(Tender o’er the grieved hearts that followed John)?
And, journeying slow, as poor men must, on foot,
He trod sequestered paths and beaten way
(Ah, could we find that pilgrim path for our feet!)
Northward, towards Galilee, where He was reared:
Wherefore He needs must through Samaria pass,
Hostile Samaria, south of Galilee.
St. John iii. 31–36.
St. John iv. 1–4.