---
title: 'Wanted: A Samaritan'
type: post
author: 'R. Andrew Myers'
date: 2018-02-12
url: https://confessional.org/blog/2018-wanted-a-samaritan
---

# Wanted: A Samaritan

We have had occasion previously to take notice of the [number of poets](/blog/2017-three-19th-century-presbyterian-poetshymn-writers-j-w-alexander-b-b-warfield-and-john-l-girardeau) that are represented among the ministers highlighted at Log College Press. [B.B. Warfield](/authors/b-b-warfield) is one of those Presbyterian pastor-poets.

One of his particular compositions is brief but profound. Interestingly, he first published “Wanted: A Samaritan” in January 31, 1907 issue of *The Independent* under the *non de plum* “Nicholas Worth, Jr.” It was later published under his own name in [*Four Hymns and Some Religious Verses*](https://www.logcollegepress.com/s/Warfield-Benjamin-Breckinridge-Four-Hymns-and-Some-Religious-Verses.pdf) (1910).

**Wanted: A Samaritan**

Prone in the road he lay,
Wounded and sore bested:
Priests, Levites past that way
And turned aside the head.

They were not hardened men
In human service slack:
His need was great: but then,
His face, you see, was black.