Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

Q. But how fhall I escape and flee
Th' avenging wrath of God?
A. In Chrift, who bore upon the tree
That whole amazing load.

Q. Alas! I'm daily apt to stray,
How fhall I heav'nward make?
A. Through Chrift the confecrated way,
Defign'd for thee to take.

Ah! where's my title, right, or claim,
To that eternal blifs?

A. In Chrift alone, that glorious name,
The Lord our righteousness.

Q. But who unfit can enter there,
Or with fuch nasty feet?

A. Chrift by his blood presents thee fair,
His Spirit makes thee meet.

Q. But may'nt my fpirit, weak as grafs,
Fail e'er it reach the length?
A. Jefus the Lord thy righteousness
Will be the Lord thy firength.

Q. May'nt hellifh hofts, and wicked foes,
Sore by the way moleft?

A. Chrift is a friend to bridle thofe,
And give the weary rest.

Q. May'nt guilty confcience loudly brand,
And all my comfort chace?

A. Chrift with a pardon in his hand
Can fhew his fmiling face.

Q. But how can divine mercy vent,
Where fins are great and throng?
A. Chrift is the channel with descent
That mercy runs along.

Q. But may not justice interpose,
And ftand in mercy's way ?

A. Jefus did all the debt thou owes
To divine juftice pay.

Q. Where fhall mine eyes the pardon spy,
Unto my faving good?

A. In Chrift's free promife fee it lie,
In his atoning blood.

Q. What ground have I to trust and say,,
The promife is not vain?

A. In Chrift the promises are rea,
In him they are Amen.

Q. But where is Chrift himself, O where
With promises so fweet?

A. Chrift's in the promises, and there
Thy faith and he may meet,

Q. Is Chrift in them, and they in Christ?
How fhall I this defcry?

A. His blood and Spirit therein lift
To heal and to apply.

'Gainft legal fiery threats of wrath,
Pray, what defence is beft?

A. Chrift's full obedience ey'd by faith;
There fhould the guilty, reft.

O. But how fhall faith be had? Alas!
I find I can't believe.

A. Chrift is the author of that grace,
And faith is his to give.

Q. Ah! when may faithlefs I expect
He'll fuch a blifs bequeath?

A. He will of unbelief convict,
And pave the way for faith.

Repentance muft attend, but whence
Shall I this grace receive?
A. Chrift is exalted as a prince
All needful grace to give.

Q. How can fo vile a lump of dust

Heart-holinefs expect?

A. Chrift by his holy Spirit must
This gradual change effect.

Q. How fhall I do the works aright,
I'm daily bound unto?

A. Chrift in thee, by his Spirit's might,
Works both to will and do.

Q. How fhall my maladies be heal'd,
So fore molefting me?

A. Chrift is the great Phyfician feal'd,-
The Lord that healeth thee.

Q. By prayer I ought to feek his face,

This courfe how fhall I drive?
A. 'Tis Chrift alone that has the grace
And fp'rit of pray'r to give.

Salvation-work is great and high,

Alas! what shall I do?

A. Chrift as the Alpha thereof eye,
And the Omega too.

Q What pillar then is moft fecure
To build my hope upon?

A. Chrift only the foundation-fure.
The living corner-ftone.

Q. When I'm with black pollution ftain'd,
How fhall I cleanfed be!

A. Chrift is a fountain for that end

1

Set open wide for thee.

What fhall I do, when plagues abound,
With forrows, griefs, and fears?

A. Chrift has a baljam for thy wounds,
A bottle for thy tears.

But is there any help for one-
That utterly is loft ?

A. Chrift faves from fin, and he alone,
Ev'n to the uttermoft.

Q. But where fhall I be fafe at last
From hell and endless death?
A. Chrift is a refuge from the blast
Of everlasting wrath.

Q. But mayn't ev'n natʼral death to me
Become a dreadful thing?

A. Chrift by his death in love to thee
Did ev'ry death unfting.

Q Why, Sir, is Chrift the whole you fay?
No anfwer elfe I find.

A. Because, were Chrift our all away,
There's nothing left behind.

Q. How can he answer ev'ry cafe,
and help in ev'ry thrall?

A. Because he is the Lord of grace,
JEHOVAH all in all.

Q. How is he present to supply,
And to relieve us thus?

A Because his glorious name is nigh,
IMMANUEL, God with us.

Q. Has he alone all pow'r to fave,
It nothing left to man?

A. Yea, without Chrift we nothing have,
Without him nothing can.

May'nt fome from hence take latitude And room their lufts to please;

If Chrift do all, than very good,

Let us take carnal eafe.

A. Chrift will in flaming vengeance come,
With fury in his face,

To damn his foes that dare perfume,
And thus abufe his grace.

SECT. IV.

Faith and Works both excluded from the matter of juftification before God, that redemption may appear to be only in Chrift.

WHO

HO dare an holy God addrefs,
With an unholy righteousness?
Who can endure his awful probe,
Without perfection for their robe?
None could his great tribunal face,
Were faith itself their faireft drefs:
Faith takes the robe, but never brags
Itfelf has ought but filthy rags.

Faith claims no fhare, and works far lefs,
In justice-pleasing righteousness;
The fervant were to be abhorr'd,
Would claim the glory of his lord.
Blafphemous unbelief may claim
The praifes of the worthy Lamb:
But faith difclaiming all its beft,
Not on itself, but Chrift, will reft.
I'm fav'd and juftifi'd by faith,
Which yet no faving value hath;
Nor e'er pretends to fave from thrall
But in it's object has its all.
'Tis Chrift alone faves guilty me,

And makes my right to life fo free,

That in himself it ftands alone:

Faith takes the right, but gives me none.
I dare not act with this intent,

For acts of mine to draw the rent;
Nor do good works with this defign,
To win the crown by works of mine.

« AnteriorContinuar »