This hymn is linked to my last Encounter at the Well post about John 4 and the woman at the well. It is most likely only found in Alliance hymnals and I'll be surprised if anyone reading this even remembers it! So why include this? I like the first stanza and really like the chorus and how it captures Jesus' words to the woman at the well. And the story of May Agnew Stephens is great!
You can hear it here. The words are different until you get to the chorus, but you can hear the tune. And about the different lyrics, what I have provided below is the original, but it would appear someone has written new lyrics.
For every sinner’s pain,
And he that drinketh, Jesus said,
Shall never thirst again.
What! never thirst again?
No, never thirst again;
What! never thirst again?
No, never thirst again,
For he that drinketh, Jesus said,
Shall never, never thirst again.
Earth’s fountains fair but mock our souls,
Like desert phantoms lure,
And they that drink, the fainter grow,
The keener thirst endure.
This stream from Calvary still flows,
To bless and cleanse and heal,
And he that drinketh, Jesus said,
New life and rest shall feel.
Oh, blessèd stream of pure delight!
Oh, balm for every pain!
To thee I haste, for Jesus said,
I’ll never thirst again.
May Agnew Stephens (1865-1935)
Refrain words and music by anonymous
Mary Agnew joined the Salvation Army in 1890. Around 1897, she began serving as song leader and pianist at the Gospel Tabernacle with A.B. Simpson. In 1899 she helped found the Eighth Avenue Mission, and in 1902 married Harold Stephens. For the next two and half decades she and her husband were traveling evangelists in America, Canada and Britain. This hymn was first published in 1903.
As I said earlier, this is found in the Alliance hymnal, Hymns of the Christian Life (all three editions in my possession). This is one of three of her songs in the hymnal. She also wrote the music for two others, both A.B. Simpson songs, including Living in the Glory (I really like this one!).
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