Of endless life unto the dead;

And present help in time of need:

Good news of heav'n, where angels dwell,
To those that well deserved hell;

Of strength to weak for work and war,
And access near to those afar:

Glad news of joy to those that weep,
And tender care of cripple sheep;
Of shelter to the soul pursu'd,
And cleansing to the hellish-hu'd;

Of floods to sap the parched ground,
And streams to run the desert round;
Of ransom to the captive caught,
And harbor to the found'ring yacht;

Of timely aid to weary groans;
Of joy restor❜d to broken bones;
Of grace divine to graceless preys,
And glory to the vile and base;

Of living water pure, that teems
On fainting souls refreshing streams;
Of gen'rous wine to cheer the strong,
And milk to feed the tender young ;

Of saving faith to faithless ones;

Of soft'ning grace to flinty stones;
Of pardon to a guilty crew,

And mercy free, where wrath was due:

Good news of welcome kind to all,
That come to Jesus at his call;

Yea, news of drawing pow'r, when scant,
To those that fain would come, and can't:

Glad news of rich mysterious grace,
And mercy meeting ev'ry case;
Of store immense all voids to fill,
And free to whosoever will;

Of Christ exalted as a Prince,
Pardons to give and penitence;
Of grace o'ercoming stubborn wills,
And leaping over Bether hills.

Faith comes by hearing these reports,
Straight to the court of grace resorts,
And free of mercenary thought,
Gets royal bounty all for nought.

Faith's wing within the clammy sea
Of legal merit cannot fly;

But mounting mercy's air apace,

Soars in the element of grace.

But as free love the blessing gives
To him that works not, but believes,
So faith, once reaching its desire,
Works hard by love, but not for hire.

CHAPTER III.

THE BELIEVER'S PRINCIPLES CONCERNING JUSTIFICATION AND SANCTIFICATION, THEIR DIFFERENCE AND HARMONY.

SECTION I.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN JUSTIFICATION AND SANCTIFICATION; OR RIGHTEOUSNESS IMPUTED AND GRACE IMPARTED; IN UPWARDS OF THIRTY PARTICULARS.*

KIND Jesus spent his life to spin

My robe of perfect righteousness;

But by his Spirit's work within

He forms my gracious, holy dress.

He as a Priest me justifies,

His blood does roaring conscience still;

But as a King he sanctifies,

And subjugates my stubborn will.

* Note, That (metri causa) justification is here sometimes expressed by the words imputed grace, justifying grace, righteousness, &c., sanctification by the names imparted grace, grace, graces, holiness, sanctity, &c., which the judicious will easily understand.

He, justifying by his merit,

Imputes to me his righteousness;

But sanctifying by his Spirit,

Infuses in me saving grace.

My justifying righteousness

Can merit by condignity:

But nothing with my strongest grace
Can be deserv'd by naughty me.

This justifying favor sets

The guilt of all my sin remote;

But sanctifying grace delates

The filth and blackness of its blot.

By virtue of this righteousness

Sin can't condemn nor justly brand:

By virtue of infused grace

Anon it ceases to command.

The righteousness which I enjoy,

Sin's damning pow'r will wholly stay;

And grace imparted will destroy

Its ruling domineering sway.

The former is my Judge's act
Of condonation full and free;